The captain and coach of the Canadian national team apologized for their behavior in the 2026 World Cup match against the Czech team

Representatives of the Canadian national hockey team apologized for unsportsmanlike behavior during a match at the 2026 World Junior Championships, TSN reports.

The Group B meeting, held on Saturday in Minneapolis (USA), ended with a victory for the Canadians with a score of 7:5. After the end of the match, the Canadian youth hockey team left the ice, ignoring the traditional handshake ceremony. Also at the end of the game, Canadian captain Michael Porter skated past the Czech bench and provoked the opposing players.

“I have to apologize for my actions at the end of the game.” This is unacceptable and it shouldn’t be this way. As the captain of this team, as the leader of this team, I set a bad example for the rest of the guys. It’s my fault and I shouldn’t do this. This is a lesson for the future. “I take full responsibility for my actions,” Porter said.

“I apologize to the Czechs for the handshake incident, and we will shake hands in the next match,” said Canada head coach Dale Hunter.

Earlier it became known that the International Hockey Federation (IIHF) began an investigation into what happened in the match. Hockey Canada has formally apologized for the handshake incident.

The 2026 World Cup started in the USA on December 26 and will end on January 5.