Auston Matthews continues to deal with a lingering upper-body injury. Would it be best for the team and player to rest in February during the 4 Nations Face-Off? Toronto Maple Leafs prospects Easton Cowan and Miroslav Holinka both got on the board and helped their respective nations to victory on the opening day of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa. Cowan scored Canada's second goal in their 4-0 blanking of Finland in Group A action. He beat Finnish goaltender Petteri Rimpinen with a wrist shot to the short side. It was one of two shots on goal for Toronto's first-round selection (28th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft. Cowan finished the game with 16:21 in total ice time. Cowan is making his return to the tournament this year after Canada was upset by Slovakia, finishing fifth and not making it to the medal round last year. "Last year sucked, so we just want to feel better at the end of this tournament," Cowan told TSN's Kenzie Lalonde during their second intermission interview. "We're going to give it all we have and hopefully get that gold medal." Earlier in the day, Maple Leafs prospect Miroslav Holinka had a great day for Czechia, nabbing a goal and an assist to help his nation defeat Switzerland 5-1 in Group B action. Toronto's fifth-round pick (151st overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft factored in on Czechia's opening two goals of the tournament. He scored the opening goal with a deflection in front of the net and later picked up the primary assist on Eduard Sale's tally. Next up for Cowan and Canada is a game on Friday against Latvia at 7:30 p.m. ET, while Holinka and Czechia are off until Saturday when they take on Kazakhstan. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdc7jsdsfxc[/embed]
