ST. PAUL, Minn. — While the colour wasn't the one they desired, Canada's junior men's hockey team secured a crucial piece of hardware on Monday, capturing the bronze medal at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. The 6-3 victory over Finland at the Grand Casino Arena ensured the Canadian squad avoided matching an unwanted piece of history.
Averting a Historic Slump
The win was significant beyond the podium finish. By securing the bronze, Canada sidestepped what would have been its first three-year medal drought at the world juniors since 1981. The pressure was palpable after back-to-back tournaments without a medal, but the team responded with a determined performance against a familiar opponent.
This marked the second time in the tournament Canada bested Finland by a three-goal margin, having previously defeated them 7-4 on December 31 to clinch top spot in Group B. The bronze medal game, however, carried far greater stakes.
Offensive Firepower Leads the Way
Forward Sam O'Reilly led the charge with two goals, while phenom Gavin McKenna put on a playmaking clinic, tallying one goal and three assists. Michael Hage also contributed significantly with three helpers, cementing his status as one of Canada's most consistent forwards throughout the event.
The game's opening frame was a back-and-forth affair, with Canada taking a 3-2 lead into the first intermission. O'Reilly opened the scoring on a slick 2-on-1 finish, set up by Hage. After Finland's Arttu Valila tied it, Braeden Cootes restored Canada's lead. The teams then traded power-play goals, with Finland's Julius Miettinen scoring before Canadian defenceman Zayne Parekh responded with a blistering shot from the circle.
Record-Breaking Performance on the Blue Line
The story of the tournament for Canada was undoubtedly the historic performance of defenceman Zayne Parekh. With an assist on Porter Martone's second-period goal, Parekh set a new Canadian record for most points by a defenceman in a single world junior tournament with 13, surpassing the previous mark of 12 set by Alex Pietrangelo in 2010.
Canada extended its lead early in the second. Martone converted a feed from Tij Iginla, and soon after, O'Reilly netted his second of the game on a perfectly executed slap-pass from McKenna during a power play, making it 5-2.
Finland's Heikki Ruohonen brought his team back within two, but Canada sealed the victory late in the third when the dynamic duo of McKenna and Hage connected again, with McKenna finishing into a yawning cage.
In net, goaltender Carter George, who started in place of Jack Ivankovic, weathered an early storm. After allowing two goals in the first 12 minutes, he settled in to stop 32 of 35 shots for his fifth win of the tournament. Hage finished as Canada's overall scoring leader with 14 points.
The bronze medal serves as a consolation for a team that entered the tournament aiming for gold, but it also represents a critical reset for Hockey Canada's junior program, ensuring the nation's proud history at the event continues with a podium finish.
