Norway secured a 3-2 upset victory over Canada in overtime, with Noah Steen scoring the winning goal at the 3:32 mark of the extra session. This win marked Norway’s first-ever medal at the men’s world hockey championship. Robert Thomas netted both goals for Canada in the final 1:16 of regulation, pushing the game into overtime.
Canadian head coach Misha Donskov expressed disappointment in his team’s performance, noting that they struggled to find their rhythm throughout the game. Despite having talented players and strong leadership, Canada fell short of their desired outcome. This defeat came after Canada’s 4-2 loss to Finland in the semifinals, extending their streak of missing out on a medal at the world championship for the third consecutive year.
In the bronze medal match, Canada’s Jet Greaves made 21 saves, wrapping up the tournament with an impressive .919 save percentage and 1.88 goals-against average. Macklin Celebrini, Canada’s captain, led the team in scoring with 14 points, including six goals and eight assists. Reflecting on the tournament, Celebrini believed Canada had more to offer but acknowledged Norway’s strong performance.
Canada had a successful preliminary round, finishing atop Group B with victories over several teams. Despite their strong history in the championship, with 28 gold, 16 silver, and seven bronze medals since 1931, Canada fell short this year.
On the other hand, Finland clinched their fifth world championship title by defeating Switzerland 1-0 in overtime. Konsta Helenius scored the winning goal for Finland, with goaltender Justus Annunen recording a shutout. This victory marked Finland’s first medal since their previous title four years ago, solidifying their dominance in international ice hockey.