For the first time in eight years, Canada’s U18 hockey team is golden.
Led by a pair of players who have been granted exceptional player status in the CHL, captain Shane Wright and 15-year-old phenom Connor Bedard, Canada knocked off Russia 5-3 in Thursday’s gold-medal game.
📸 | Golden moments. 🇨🇦🇷🇺
Check out the full photo gallery at https://t.co/2jU7c88hzz.
[Ryan McCullough & Chris Tanouye/HHOF-IIHF Images]#U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/mac8zSsfaF— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) May 7, 2021
Wright had a pair of goals and an assist in the final, while Bedard added a goal and an assist of his own to reach 14 points in the U18 World Championship tournament.
That matches the record for a 15-year-old player in the tournament that Bedard now shares with Connor McDavid, who reached the same total the last time Canada won gold in 2013.
Brennan Othmann also lit the lamp for Canada on Thursday, while Kamloops Blazers forward Logan Stankoven scored the eventual game-winner in the second period.
Logan Stankoven extends the lead for Canada! 🚨
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 7, 2021
🇨🇦 4 - 2 🇷🇺#U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/IUIVS7Q9EK
The Canadians got another solid performance from goaltender Benjamin Gaudreu on Thursday as well.
He made 31 saves to secure the victory and was named the tournament’s top goaltender.
This is the fourth time Canada has won the U18 World Championship.
