How did this happen? Denmark eliminates Canada in the quarterfinals of the Ice Hockey World Championship

In the quarterfinal clash of the 2025 Ice Hockey World Championship, Team Canada faced off against Denmark. The showdown took place on Thursday, May 22, and ended in an absolutely stunning upset.

Details: Canada entered as the clear favorite for this matchup, and it seemed the only question was how many goals the Maple Leafs would score. But everything was turned upside down.

• See also: Stanley Cup 2025: schedule, results, and playoff bracket

Denmark put on a defensive masterclass, holding off the Canadian attack. They managed to keep the puck out of their net for over 40 minutes, but in the sixth minute of the third period, the Maple Leafs finally broke through and took the lead, holding on to a narrow advantage as the clock ticked down.

But in the final three minutes, something truly extraordinary—and seemingly impossible—unfolded. Denmark scored twice and pulled off a sensational 2-1 victory over Canada. As a result, the Danes advance to the World Championship semifinals. Before the game, bookmakers gave Canada odds of 1.1 to win, while Denmark's odds were over 15.

For the second year in a row, Canada will not play in the World Championship final. Last year, they fell in the semifinals—this time, their exit came even earlier.

Denmark will play in the World Championship semifinals for the first time in history.