By CAMI KEPKE, Western Hockey League (https://chl.ca/whl/ – reprinted with permission)
Ball out, fellas.
Prince Albert Raiders Captain Justice Christensen and Everett Silvertips defender Rylan Pearce (who hails from Martensville) have captured gold for Canada at the 2025 ISBHF U20 Ball Hockey World Championship in Poprad, Slovakia.
Canada clinched a second-straight first-place finish with a dramatic 8-7 overtime victory over Czechia on Sunday, July 7.
The Canucks held a commanding 7-3 lead before the Czechs roared back to force extra time.
“That was actually pretty surreal,” Pearce said. “It was a bit of a blowout there for a bit, and then they made it nice and close in the third and definitely got the nerves going. But it was a super cool experience. And to win gold, the Czechs almost clean-swept the whole world championship with the U23, the U16, and the women’s U20, and we were the only Canadian team to beat them this year.”
Christensen, who also wore the ‘C’ for the tournament, scored once and added two helpers, including a secondary assist on the title-clinching overtime goal. The 19-year-old was named the tournament’s top defender with a goal and seven assists for eight points in five games.
Not too shabby for his first international appearance!
The Red Deer, Alta. product first gave ball hockey a whirl last summer after his Raiders teammate and WHL Goaltender of the Year, Max Hildebrand, invited him to play in a tournament (along with Pearce and Saskatoon Blades President and General Manager Colin Priestner) in Edmonton, where he caught the eye of national team staff.
Christensen led all WHL defencemen with 22 goals in 2024-25 after being named the 49th Captain in Raiders history.
He was also named a WHL East Division Second Team All-Star in 2023-24.
Pearce, 19, chipped in two points (1G-1A) in six appearances, highlighted by a powerplay rip in Canada’s 4-2 win over the United States in the semifinals on the fourth of July.
The 5-foot-9, 183-pound rearguard is coming off a 16-point (5G-11A) campaign with the Everett Silvertips, helping the U.S. Division powerhouse secure the 2025 Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as WHL regular season champions.
Pearce was also recognized as the winner of Everett’s Unsung Hero award for 2024-25.
The Martensville, Sask. product has also been on the ball hockey scene for just over a year.
In addition to winning the men’s ‘C’ division in Edmonton with his fellow WHLers, Pearce has represented Saskatchewan at the Junior Nationals, played at the men’s ‘A’ level, and is headed to Mississauga, Ont., in August to compete at the 2025 Canadian Ball Hockey Association Super Nationals.
Pearce says winning gold has given him extra inspiration ahead of his final season of WHL eligibility while adding a new edge to his offseason training.
“It’s a great workout with all the running, it helps me with my offensive game, too,” Pearce added. “If you go watch a men’s game, you it gets pretty chippy. There might be the odd fight. It’s just the competitive nature you get that you don’t get from a summer skate doing skills.
Last year (in Everett), we lost in game seven. I’m excited to get back there, and hopefully, we have a nice long run back with the boys. I want to win a championship in the Western League as a 20-year-old, so nothing but motivation right now.”
In total, five Canadian Hockey League players helped Canada win gold, including QMJHL Champion Matteo Rotondi (Drummondville Voltigeurs), forward Kyle Morey (Kitchener Rangers / Barrie Colts / Baie-Comeau Drakkar) and blueliner Blair Scott (Kitchener Rangers / Barrie Colts / Niagara IceDogs).