Czechia scored a pair of unanswered goals to take the lead but Zayne Parekh scored late in the frame as Canada and Czechia head to the third period tied 3-3 in the World Junior Championship opener.
Canada held a 2-1 lead after one, but goals from Vojtech Cihar and Petr Sikora gave Czechia the lead midway through the period.
Czechia evened the score four minutes into the second frame. On a delayed penalty to Canada, Cihar tipped a pass for Adam Benak over the shoulder of Carter George for the equalizer. It was Benak’s second assist of the game.
Canada went to the power play for the second time in the game shortly after Cihar’s goal, when Matyas Man was sent to the box for hooking Michael Hage. Canada mustered one shot with their second opportunity with the man advantage.
Sikora gave the Czechs their first lead of the game at 12:13 of the second frame. Off a Canadian defensive breakdown, Sikora found himself wide open in the slot and fired home a one-timer off a touch pass from Cihar.
Parekh, a first-round pick of the Calgary Flames, gave Canada a spark with a wrist shot from the point that found its way through traffic and past Michal Orsulak for his first of the tournament.
Canada got a pair of first-period goals from Michael Hage and Brady Martin, while Tomas Poletin opened the scoring for Czechia.
George has stopped 19 of 22 shots for Canada through two periods, while Orsulak has made 13 saves on 16 shots.
