Canada fell 3-2 to Czechia in the knockout stages of the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Toronto Maple Leafs prospects Fraser Minten and Easton Cowan are going home after Canada fell to Czechia 3-2 in quarterfinal action at the 2024 IIHF World Juniors in Gothenburg, Sweden on Tuesday.
"It feels like the world's ending a bit," Minten told reporters including The Canadian Press' Josh Clipperton following the game. "You never really know if you're gonna get another look representing your country playing on such a global stage."
Minten and Cowan were representing Canada for the very first time in their young careers at the World Juniors with Minten being named the team's captain days before the tournament began.
Toronto's second-round pick (38th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft, Minten led all Canadian forwards in average ice time with 17:46 of ice time. He finished the tournament with a goal and two assists in five games while posting 13 shots on goal.
Cowan, the Maple Leafs' first-round pick (28th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft, averaged 15:04 of ice time and registered two assists in five games.
Cowan's last assist of the tournament came on Tuesday when he assisted on Matthew Wood's goal that cut Czechia's lead down to 2-1 in the second period.
There is little doubt that the disappointment of Canada losing in the quarters may sting for a while, but for the Maple Leafs prospects in particular, it should help in their development as they learn from the pressure situations that come with a single-game elimination tournament.
Minten established a goal this summer to make the Canadian team and ended up being captain. The 19-year-old made the Maple Leafs out of training camp and played in four games with the club before returning to Junior. It may be Minten's only kick at the can at the Juniors but Cowan could find himself back there next year since he is only 18.
Minten and Cowan will return home to their respective junior clubs. Minten has a combined five goals and 10 assists in 13 games with the Kamloops Blazers and Saskatoon Blades. Cowan has been producing at an exceptional rate with the London Knights. He has 12 goals and 27 assists in 23 games this season
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