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CANADA WINS GOLD! Defeats Russia to take World Junior title

Our Canadian World Juniors took the Gold Medal today in Ostrava, Czech Republic for their first World Junior Championship on European soil since 2008. Canada won a hard fought battle defeating longtime rivals Russia in a 4-3 nail-biter.

Toronto’s Akil Thomas scored the winning goal for Canada in the World Junior Championship final against Russia.

Birthday boy, Toronto’s Akil Thomas scored the winning goal roofing a backhander in tight in the dying minutes of the game. It was his first and only goal of the tournament.

Team captain Barrett Hayton, a doubtful starter due to injury, scored the game-tying goal after the Canadians went down 3-2 in the third. Hayton was also named the Player of the Game. The Arizona Coyotes centre and Peterborough raised centre led the tournament with 12 goals.

Canada entered the third period 3-1 and came back from behind to seize victory. They beat all odds as they were also trounced 6-0, their worst ever loss, by the Russians in the qualifying round.

Ontario and the GTA were well represented on this Canadian team with players from Toronto, Scarborough, Mississauga, Hamilton, Ajax, Parry Sound, Port Perry, Newmarket and more.

Team Canada World Juniors are all smiles with gold medals draped around their necks after defeating Russia 4-3 in the 2020 World Junior Championship held in Ostavar, Czech Republic.

The Russians took a couple of undisciplined penalties in the dying minute of the game to nullify their own empty net power play, which eased the tension for Canadian fans at the Ostravar Arena, and the world over.

Canada got lucky late in the game when cleared the puck over the glass, which is normally a penalty but it hit the TSN camera. So although the puck was over the glass the penalty was not called because it hit an arena object.