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Canada won its 16th World Junior Hockey Championships with a 5-4 win over Russia at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on January 5th. It was Canada’s first gold medal since 2009 and first medal of any kind since 2012. They went through the tournament unbeaten, but the win against Russia didn’t come easy as they almost blew a 5-1 second-period lead. Russia bounced back with three goals in three minutes and 16 seconds to claw back into the game, but couldn’t find the equalizer. In the Bronze Medal Game, Slovakia upset Sweden 4-2.

Canada went into the championship tilt with six consecutive wins under their belt and had outscored their opponents 34-5 along the way. Their goals against Russia came from Max Domi, Anthony Duclair, Nick Paul, Connor McDavid and Sam Reinhart. It looked like the host nation was going to run away with the contest as they scored on their first two shots. Duclair put Canada in front after just 23 seconds and Paul doubled the lead just over two minutes later. Russia made it 2-1 soon after, but Canada had built up a 5-1 lead by the midway point of the second period. That’s when Russia answered back with their trio of quick goals.

Goals for Russia came courtesy of Dmitri Yudin, Ivan Barbashev, Sergei Tolchinski and Nikolai Goldobin. The game winner was scored by Reinhart when he blasted in his fifth of the tournament at the 12:30 mark of the second period. Canadian goalie Zachary Fucale earned the win by making 26 saves. Igor Shesterkin started in goal for Russia, but head coach Valeri Bragin yanked him after allowing the two early goals and replaced him with Ilya Sorokin.

Forward Max Domi, who is the son of former NHL enforcer Tie Domi and who was drafted into the NHL by the Arizona Coyotes, was thrilled with the win and told the media, “I can’t really put this into words right now, it’s a dream come true. You grow up watching this tournament every year at Christmas time with the family and to now be a part of it and win a gold medal is outstanding.”

The Bronze Medal Game was also played in Toronto and Slovakia managed to win their first medal in 16 years. It was the country’s second-ever medal as they also took the bronze back in 1999. Each team took 28 shots on goal, but Slovakian netminder Denis Godla was the star of the game. Sweden was expected to win the game, but seemed to be deflated after losing 4-1 to Russia in the semifinal stage.

Slovakia jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the first period when David Soltes and Mislav Rosandic scored goals just 39 seconds apart. However, William Nylander and Jens Looke replied for Sweden to tie it 2-2. Pavol Skalicky scored the game winner on the power play at the 2:52 mark of the third period and Patrik Koys added an empty-net goal with 2:28 to go after Swedish goalie Linus Soderstrom was pulled for an extra attacker.