Team Canada has won the gold medal at the World U18 Men’s Hockey Championship in Espoo, Finland. On Sunday, Canada defeated the United States in the gold medal game by a score of 6-4.
In the championship final, four Canadians had a multi-point game. Medicine Hat Tigers left winger Gavin McKenna of Whitehorse, Yukon registered a hat trick and had four points as he had three goals and one assist. Kelowna Rockets center Tij Iginla of Lake Country, British Columbia had three points as he had one goal and two assist. Ottawa 67’s defenseman Henry Mews of Ottawa, Ontario had three assists, and Prince Albert Raiders right winger Ryder Ritchie of Calgary, Alberta had one goal and one assist for two points. The other Canadian goal scorer was Barrie Colts centre Cole Beaudoin of Kanata, Ontario.
McKenna led the tournament with 10 goals. Canada went undefeated as they won all four games in Group B. They defeated Sweden 6-3, the Czech Republic 6-0, Switzerland 8-1, and Kazakhstan 11-3. In the quarterfinals, Canada blanked Latvia 4-0, and then in the semifinals, Canada beat Sweden 5-4.
This is the fifth time Canada had won the World U18 Men’s Hockey Championship. They previously won in Yaroslavl, Russia in 2003, in Kazan, Russia in 2008, in Sochi, Russia in 2013, and in Frisco, Texas in 2021.
