A hard start doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the end and Team Canada was there to prove that. A rough outing at the start of the IIHF World Hockey Championships forced many people to doubt the capabilities of the Canadian side but eventually with the help of luck they came on top and won the gold medals.
Canada began the tournament with three lost games in a row, however with each game Canada picked up the place glued together and proved why they’re the powerhouse of hockey. The last time they had won gold was at the 2016 tournament.
The final game of the tournament was played between Canada and Finland. In the first period, the champions did have an on-ice advantage but Finland managed to level it with three powerplay opportunities. Although the Finns couldn’t take advantage there yet they still managed to get the first goal of the game – Mikael Ruohomaa gave his team a 1:0 lead mid-way through the first period.
Finland strikes first! Mikael Ruohomaa. 1-0.🇫🇮🚨 #FINCAN #IIHFWorlds @leijonat pic.twitter.com/632FKHI9CJ
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) June 6, 2021
At the start of the second period, Finland gave Canada their fair share of powerplay opportunities – two powerplays. Aggressiveness paid off and after many ricochets, Canada’s Maxime Comtois found the puck and slid it into the net to make it 1:1. The Finns then picked up the pace and went on to create more scoring opportunities for themselves but nothing happened until Canada appeared to have scored, however, a quick coach’s challenge determined that the play was offside therefore no goal.
In the third Canada got themselves another huge opportunity but they couldn’t put the puck in the net and Finns got their revenge that was best served cold – Finland made it 2:1. The Ducks connection came in clutch – Maxime Comtois found Adam Henrique for the tying goal which meant that the faith of gold medals would be decided in OT.
We’re tied again! Adam Henrique. 2-2.🇨🇦💪 #FINCAN #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/3ss9IYmfWp
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) June 6, 2021
In overtime, both teams created excellent scoring chances but the Canadian side got what they came for – after an offensive zone face-off loss two of the Finn players were too late to return to defend which meant a 2-on-1 for Canada. Connor Brown connected with Nick Paul for the championship-winning goal – 3:2 the final score.
A Cinderella story!🤩 Canada wins “little miracle” gold after losing first three games on tournament.🇨🇦🥇 #IIHFWorlds @HockeyCanada
Read full game story ⤵️https://t.co/9AFCbexNIh pic.twitter.com/oYGu16STAc
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) June 6, 2021
In the early game of the day which decided thew faith for bronze medals Team USA devasted Germans with a score of 6:1 confidently taking away third place at the tournament.
Andrew Mangiapane was named tournaments MVP.
