Canada wins gold medal at 2023 World Junior Hockey Championship

Dylan Guenther (Matias Kaiser, Wikimedia Commons)

Team Canada has won the gold medal at the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia. On Thursday, Canada defeated Czechia 3-2 in overtime. Dylan Guenther of Edmonton, Alberta scored the overtime winner at 6:22 of the extra period from Joshua Roy of St-Georges-de-Beauce, Quebec and Brandt Clarke of Ottawa, Ontario.

This was the second of two goals for the Arizona Coyotes prospect. The right winger who played his junior hockey with the Edmonton Oil Kings, opened the scoring from Clarke and Brennan Othmann of Scarborough, Ontario, at 12:41 of the first period on the power-play.

The other Canadian goal scorer was Shane Wright of Burlington, Ontario. He scored a highlight reel marker on his 19th birthday from Guenther and Othmann at 4:35 of the second period which put Canada up 2-0 at the time.

Canada had a 2-0 lead heading into the third period when Czechia scored twice at 12:30 and 13:24 of the extra frame. The Czechia goals came 56 seconds apart.

Connor Bedard of North Vancouver, British Columbia was named tournament MVP. He had nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points in seven games.

The United States won the bronze medal game. In a wild offensive battle, the Americans beat Sweden 8-7 in another game that went into overtime.

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