Canada team He won the gold medal For the 28th time in the world championship, defeating Germany 5-2. This was also Canada’s 53rd medal as it remains the most decorated nation in the history of the championships. Here’s a look back at their path to gold.
Canada’s road to the gold medal game
While Team Canada won five of their seven preliminary round matches, they weren’t quite as dominant as fashion fans have come to expect over the years. Yes, they beat Latvia 6-0 but they also suffered their second all-time finish loss to norway, Falling 3-2 in a penalty shootout. Fortunately, they were able to take advantage of a weaker group that had no other team in the top five when it came to the world rankings, as they finished second behind Switzerland with 15 points and a goal difference of plus 14.
During the preliminary phase, Canada also had to go through some adversity as Detroit Red Wings’ Joe Felino was suspended after their game against Switzerland in the game. remainder of the tournament. Midway through the second half, he stomped/kicked Winnipeg Jets forward and legged Swiss captain Nino Niederreiter in a puck battle all the way up the boards. While no injury occurred, it was a dangerous play that deserved to be stopped.
Related: Team Canada’s 2023 World Series Roster Breakdown
The suspension forced the Canadians to switch lines, as they would be without a first line position for the remainder of the tournament. That coach left Andre Turenne in a difficult place as he needed to tinker with his squad late in the qualifying round to find some consistency. In the end, he was able to find the right fixtures, which helped reduce the hole left after Felino’s suspension.
Then the Canadians took care of the hosts first in the quarterfinals, defeating Finland 4-1, and then in the semifinals, again defeating Latvia, this time 4-2. What made watching these games exciting is that every night there is a different hero that advances. Against Finland, St. Louis Blues forward Sammy Blaise scored the game-winner midway through the second period, while the NHL prospect scored. Adam Fantley’s highlight goal reel Midway through the third period against Latvia he helped send them into the gold medal game. They executed their gameplay to near perfection and, as a result, found themselves in the championship tournament for the fourth consecutive tournament, this time facing a German team that was looking for their first ever World Championship gold.
Canada wins gold again
While they had to fight back from one-goal deficits twice during the match, Canada defeated Germany 5-2 in the championship game, 28 gold medalists in the tournament. The win also broke a tie with the USSR/Russia for most gold medals at the tournament. With this win, Canada has now won four of the last eight World Championships while earning at least a medal in seven of those tournaments.
Related: Flames’ Weegar Deserves a Bigger Role After the World Series
Latest news and highlights
Just as they did against Finland and Latvia during the qualifiers, Canada managed to execute their game plan well and get the scoring all over their squad. Bliss scored twice, including the game-winner for the Canadiens, while Arizona Coyotes’ Lawson Krause, Tyler Toffoli of the Calgary Flames, and Scott Laughton of the Philadelphia Flyers all hit the nets. In the net, Montreal Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembolt was once again strong, stopping 21 of the 23 shots he faced, and finished the tournament with a 6-1 record and a . 939 save percentage. It was an uphill battle from start to finish, but in the end, the Canadian talent came when it was needed most and helped her capture the gold medal at this year’s World Championships.
Canada’s balanced track record makes all the difference
When we look back on this Canadian team, one thing that remains that stands out is how they managed to get balanced goals throughout their lineup. In total, ten players scored a goal, while at least 19 skaters scored a point during the tournament. Only one player surpassed Canada’s double-digit record, surprisingly Calgary Flames defenseman McKenzie Wiggar, who finished with 11 points. He was also the only Canadian recipient of the award as it was named top defender And he was voted to the Media All-Star Team.
Generally, the reason is Canada He won this tournament is that they played as a unit, not as a group of individuals. While the players themselves are talented and some of the best on their respective NHL teams, they have adapted to the role given to them and set the team on individual success. They played solid from start to finish, and although every performance was not a masterpiece, they can now call themselves world championship gold medalists.