The group stage at the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship has ended, and we’re now heading into the quarterfinals. The top eight teams are set to face off on Thursday, May 22, with only four moving on to the semifinals and one team soon to be crowned World Champion on May 25.
From heavy favourites like Canada and the USA to underdogs like Austria and Denmark, here’s a quick look at all four quarterfinal matchups and the key players to watch in each.
Canada vs. Denmark
Time: 2:20 p.m. ET
Canada enters this game as the top team in Group A, having won six out of seven games. Their only loss came in a shootout against Finland. With a roster full of NHL stars like Sidney Crosby (11 points), Nathan MacKinnon (13) and Travis Konecny (12), the Canadians are expected to make a strong push for gold.
Denmark, meanwhile, just barely made it to the quarterfinals after a shootout win against Germany. Their only major NHL talent is Nikolaj Ehlers, but they will have the home crowd on their side in Herning, which could help lift their performance.
Key Players to Watch:
Canada – Crosby, MacKinnon, Konecny
Denmark – Ehlers
Switzerland vs. Austria
Time: 10:20 a.m. ET
This might be one of the more balanced matchups. Switzerland has been one of the tournament’s biggest surprises, topping Group B by beating both the USA and Czechia. Returning stars like Timo Meier, Kevin Fiala, Nino Niederreiter, and J.J. Moser give the Swiss lineup a solid mix of scoring and grit.
Austria has only one NHL player, Marco Kasper, but they’ve shown heart and physical play throughout the group stage. They’ve competed well against top teams and took advantage of weaker opponents to get into the quarters.
Key Players to Watch:
Switzerland – Fiala, Meier, Moser
Austria – Kasper
USA vs. Finland
Time: 10:20 a.m. ET
This matchup in Stockholm, Sweden is expected to be intense. The USA finished second in Group B and features several big NHL names such as Clayton Keller (9 points), Tage Thompson (7), and Zach Werenski (4). But it’s 21-year-old Frank Nazar who leads the team with 11 points.
Finland might not have as many stars, but their top player is goalie Juuse Saros, who has been outstanding. With a record of 4-1-0, a .959 save percentage, and a 1.19 goals-against average, he has given Finland a real shot at a medal.
A major highlight in this game will be the goalie battle between Saros and USA’s Jeremy Swayman, who also had a strong round-robin performance.
Key Players to Watch:
USA – Nazar, Keller, Thompson
Finland – Saros, Kemell
Sweden vs. Czechia
Time: 2:20 p.m. ET
This is possibly the most unpredictable game of the quarterfinals. Sweden will be playing at home in Stockholm, which gives them an edge. With talent like Elias Lindholm (11 points), Lucas Raymond (8), and now William Nylander, fresh off Toronto’s playoff exit, Sweden has one of the deepest lineups in the tournament.
Czechia won gold last year and is aiming to defend its title. They’ve added David Kampf from the Leafs and already have David Pastrnak, who leads the team with 14 points, and Martin Necas (6). This Czech squad should not be taken lightly.
Key Players to Watch:
Sweden – Nylander, Lindholm, Raymond, Markstrom
Czechia – Pastrnak, Necas, Kampf
As we head into the knockout stage of the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship, all four games bring a mix of star power, national pride, and the unpredictability that makes international hockey so exciting.
Whether it’s Canada’s powerhouse roster, Switzerland’s surprise run, Finland’s world-class goaltending, or the host Swedes trying to avoid an upset, Thursday’s action will shape the path to the gold medal game. Keep an eye on players like Nylander, Pastrnak, MacKinnon, Nazar, and Saros, who could be game-changers for their countries.
