photo: Micheline Veluvolu/IIHF
Canada scored early and often, kept the pressure on for 60 minutes, and skated to a thoroughly convincing 7-0 win over Sweden in the gold-medal game. In truth, it wasn’t close.
This marks the first time Canada has won U18 gold in consecutive years, and it is also the seventh year in a row for a medal for Sweden.
Jack Ivankovic stopped 28 shots for his second consecutive shutout. As well, Brady Martin scored two goals for the victors.
"I felt great, but I think it all goes back to the team and the way they played in front of me the whole tournament," Ivankovic noted. "We had some extra motivation from what they were saying in their interviews, but it's a great feeling to be on top."
"We had a plan to get pucks in and to the net," said coach Cory Stillman. "We did a good job of that early, of getting pucks back to the defencemen who got shots on net. We had some big bodies that went to the net. We built some momentum and eventually created some scoring chances and capitalized."
"Our energy was not good enough today," said Sweden's Filip Ekberg, the tournament MVP. "It just wasn't fun. They came out as the better team."
"We couldn't find a way to score," added coach Thomas Paananen. "If we score first, like yesterday, it gives the team energy, but we couldn't find that today. Canada was better at everything. It's disappointing, but we congratulate Canada on a great tournament. I'm also very proud of our guys."
Canada jumped into an early 2-0 lead and relied on Ivankovic in goal to do his usual thing—stop pucks. The game was barely four minutes old when Milton Gastrin had the puck slide off his stick in his own end. It rolled right to defender Xavier Villeneuve, and his long shot beat Love Harenstam under the glove. It was the 11th goal by blueliners for Canada in the tournament (compared to two for Sweden).
The Canadians doubled their lead at 12:31 off a fortuitous bounce. A point shot hit a cluster of bodies in front and the puck came to Cole Reschny who made a clever back pass to Martin, who knocked the puck into the open net.
SIGN-UP FOR A FREE IIHF.TV ACCOUNT TO WATCH
Sweden had their share of play and possession in the offensive end, but whenever they had a good chance they either misfired or were stymied by Ivankovic, who has been in the zone all tournament.
Canada added to their lead early in the second on a goal similar to Villeneuve’s. Jackson Smith's point shot went all the way on a screen that Harenstam couldn’t see around. They made it 4-0 at 9:35 after capitalizing on a turnover at the Canada blue line. Ethan Czata skated down the left side on a two-on-one before blasting a shot past Harenstam’s blocker.
Typical of how the night went for Sweden was Canada’s fifth goal. After getting tangled up in the Canadian crease, Sweden’s Melvin Novotny had trouble picking his stick up, leaving Canada with an odd-man rush. They took advantage. Martin made a great move, then snapped another shot past a beleaguered Harenstam.
Ivankovic came up with his best save yet late in the period, whipping his glove out to snare a nice shot from Eric Nilson, who could only shake his head in frustration.
Coach Thomas Paananen inserted Mans Goos in goal for the third, but it didn't take long for Goos to give up a sixth Canadian goal. It came at 1:12 off the stick of captain Braeden Cootes, from a bad angle. The Canadians added another at 12:23 on the power play when Jack Nesbitt knocked in a rebound from close range.
This marks the first time Canada has won U18 gold in consecutive years, and it is also the seventh year in a row for a medal for Sweden.
Jack Ivankovic stopped 28 shots for his second consecutive shutout. As well, Brady Martin scored two goals for the victors.
"I felt great, but I think it all goes back to the team and the way they played in front of me the whole tournament," Ivankovic noted. "We had some extra motivation from what they were saying in their interviews, but it's a great feeling to be on top."
"We had a plan to get pucks in and to the net," said coach Cory Stillman. "We did a good job of that early, of getting pucks back to the defencemen who got shots on net. We had some big bodies that went to the net. We built some momentum and eventually created some scoring chances and capitalized."
"Our energy was not good enough today," said Sweden's Filip Ekberg, the tournament MVP. "It just wasn't fun. They came out as the better team."
"We couldn't find a way to score," added coach Thomas Paananen. "If we score first, like yesterday, it gives the team energy, but we couldn't find that today. Canada was better at everything. It's disappointing, but we congratulate Canada on a great tournament. I'm also very proud of our guys."
Canada jumped into an early 2-0 lead and relied on Ivankovic in goal to do his usual thing—stop pucks. The game was barely four minutes old when Milton Gastrin had the puck slide off his stick in his own end. It rolled right to defender Xavier Villeneuve, and his long shot beat Love Harenstam under the glove. It was the 11th goal by blueliners for Canada in the tournament (compared to two for Sweden).
The Canadians doubled their lead at 12:31 off a fortuitous bounce. A point shot hit a cluster of bodies in front and the puck came to Cole Reschny who made a clever back pass to Martin, who knocked the puck into the open net.
SIGN-UP FOR A FREE IIHF.TV ACCOUNT TO WATCH
CANADA V. SWEDEN
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Sweden had their share of play and possession in the offensive end, but whenever they had a good chance they either misfired or were stymied by Ivankovic, who has been in the zone all tournament.
Canada added to their lead early in the second on a goal similar to Villeneuve’s. Jackson Smith's point shot went all the way on a screen that Harenstam couldn’t see around. They made it 4-0 at 9:35 after capitalizing on a turnover at the Canada blue line. Ethan Czata skated down the left side on a two-on-one before blasting a shot past Harenstam’s blocker.
Typical of how the night went for Sweden was Canada’s fifth goal. After getting tangled up in the Canadian crease, Sweden’s Melvin Novotny had trouble picking his stick up, leaving Canada with an odd-man rush. They took advantage. Martin made a great move, then snapped another shot past a beleaguered Harenstam.
Ivankovic came up with his best save yet late in the period, whipping his glove out to snare a nice shot from Eric Nilson, who could only shake his head in frustration.
Coach Thomas Paananen inserted Mans Goos in goal for the third, but it didn't take long for Goos to give up a sixth Canadian goal. It came at 1:12 off the stick of captain Braeden Cootes, from a bad angle. The Canadians added another at 12:23 on the power play when Jack Nesbitt knocked in a rebound from close range.
Canada v. Sweden - GMG - 2025 IIHF U18 Men's World Championship
OF