BEMIDJI — It was an unceremonious end to the World Junior Championship Pre-Tournament Series games at the Sanford Center.
Tied 1-1 at the end of regulation, Slovakia and Czechia played a 3-on-3 overtime period. Once Slovakia gained possession of the puck 59 seconds into the five-minute session, goaltender Leo Henriquez was pulled for an extra attacker.
No, there wasn’t a penalty called on the ice, nor was Minnesota Wild coach John Hynes behind the Slovak bench (Hynes pulled the goalie in overtime twice in March 2024, winning the first game and losing the second).
Slovakia possessed the puck for the next minute and a half before Max Curran forced a turnover and broke to a 2-on-0 rush with Adam Benák. The two Czechs gave each other a pass before Curran scored the empty-net goal for a 2-1 win with 2:15 left in OT. Slovakia did not attempt a shot on goal with the extra attacker on the ice.
Czechia beat both Slovakia and Latvia in overtime during the exhibition games in Bemidji.
The 2026 IIHF World Junior Championships begin on Dec. 26 in the Twin Cities at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul and 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis. All three teams will have one more day of practice in Bemidji before heading to the WJC.
Here are some things you might have missed from the final pre-tournament game at the Sanford Center.
Benák tries the “Michigan”
With Czechia rotating its top-six forwards in and out of lines in its final pre-tournament game, Benák saw limited action in the second period. However, when he was on the ice, he dazzled and nearly scored a highlight-reel lacrosse-style goal.
Benák scooped a bouncing puck behind the Slovakian net late in the middle frame and attempted to shelf the puck in the top-left corner of the goal past Henriquez. Benák’s attempt flew over the top of the goal. He nearly tipped in an ensuing shot from the point moments later.
Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer
Benák was taken in the 2025 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild with the 102nd pick. He has 15 goals and 28 assists through 26 Ontario Hockey League games this season with the Brantford Bulldogs, good for second-most in the league. Benák is a 5-foot-8, 163-pound, left-shot wing.
Slovakia’s third line hummed
The trio of Adam Nemec, Tomáš Chrenko and Samuel Murín was a handful for Czech defenders on Monday night. Late in the first period, the Slovakian third line put forth the team’s best shift in the opening 20 minutes. Czech goalie Michal Oršulák was forced to make a one-time save in the frame’s final minute to keep the game goalless.
They were at it again midway through the second period. Oršulák makes a one-time save on Murín’s net-front shot.
There’s no telling if the three forwards will stay together when the WJC begins on Friday, but they made a good case in their final exhibition game in Bemidji.
Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer
Nemec is a 2026 draft-eligible winger. The brother of the New Jersey Devils star forward is currently projected to be an early pick on Day 2 in July. Chrenko is also draft-eligible and is projected to be picked in a similar spot, but could sneak into the first round
Murín is in his first United States Hockey League Season with the Tri-City Storm and has four goals and five points in 28 games.
Poletín, Curran double goal totals
Both Curran and Tomáš Poletín
scored in Czechia’s first pre-tournament game
against Latvia on Friday night.
Poletín doubled the Czech lead midway through the second period in that game for his first exhibition goal. Curran scored the game-winner 16 seconds into overtime. Both of those goals were assisted by Adam Jiříček, brother of Minnesota Wild defenseman David Jiříček.
Monday was a similar story.
Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer
Before his assist in overtime, Benák forced a turnover behind the Slovakian net four and a half minutes into the third period. He fed a pass to Poletín in the slot to tie the game.
Curran is a 2024 fifth-round pick by the Colorado Avalanche (No. 161) and has 11 goals and 24 assists in 28 Western Hockey League games with the Edmonton Oil Kings this season.
Poletín is a fourth-round pick by the New York Islanders. He was selected at No. 106 in the 2025 draft and has 25 points (14 goals, 11 assists) in 25 WHL games with the Kelowna Rockets this season.
Slovakia is willing to get greasy
Save for an empty-net tally against Latvia, there was a common theme in all three of Slovakia’s goals in exhibition play.
Northern Michigan freshman center Tobias Pitka followed his rebound on top of the crease to level the score
against Latvia on Sunday night.
Chrenko then buried a behind-the-net pass from Andreas Straka less than two minutes into the third period for the game-winning goal.
On Monday, the lone Slovakian goal was, once again, at the net front.
While on the power play midway through the second period, a shot from the point was blocked in front. The puck slipped to Chrenko on the back door, who then found Lukáš Tomka unmarked out front. Oršulák overlid on the play, and Tomka finished in a yawning net.
Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer
Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer
Full tournament coverage
Click on the image above to read comprehensive coverage of the 2026 World Junior Championship tournament.
Click on image to read comprehensive coverage of the 2026 World Junior Championship tournament.
