Canada has won its second gold medal in three years at the men’s world hockey championship defeating Germany 5-2 in the final on Sunday in Tampere, Finland. Canada trailed 2-1 after the first period but scored four unanswered goals in the second and third to seal the victory.
Among the Canadian stars in the tournament were several players with connections to Alberta.
Tyler Toffoli, who was traded from the Flames to the Montreal Canadiens at the trade deadline, was Canada’s captain and leading scorer with seven goals and 11 points in 10 games. He scored the fourth goal for Canada in the final and had an assist.
Martin Lucic, who plays for the Flames, was one of Canada’s alternate captains and provided leadership and physicality. He had two goals and four points in 10 games and led the team with 32 penalty minutes.
Calgary-born Jake Bean, who was traded from the Flames to the Carolina Hurricanes at the trade deadline, was one of Canada’s most offensive defencemen with three goals and six assists in 10 games. He also had a plus-nine rating and played on both the power play and penalty kill.
Peyton Krebs from Okotoks chipped in two assists and was a plus-three. Forward Jake Neighbours from Airdrie, Alberta, had a goal and three assists in the tournament.
The 6’8” Tyler Myers, raised in Calgary, played solid defence and pocketed one goal.
Calgary Flames Defenseman MacKenzie Weegar chipped in 3 goals and eight assists. Following the gold-medal game, MacKenzie Weegar was named the tournament’s best defenceman and was selected to the media all-star team.
Canada overcame a slow start in the tournament to finish on top, becoming the first team to win gold after starting with three losses. Canada also avenged its 3-1 loss to Germany in the preliminary round.
Germany, seeking its first-ever gold medal at the event, got a goal from the Oilers’ Leon Leon Draisaitl but could not match Canada’s speed and depth. The United States won the bronze medal after beating Latvia 4-1 earlier on Sunday. Latvia finished fourth for the first time in its history.
The next men’s world hockey championship will take place in May 2024 in Prague and Ostrava, Czech Republic.
