In a display of grit, determination and unwavering confidence in their squad, the Canadians did not fold, they did not give up — they battled. Trailing 3-1 in the third period, they stormed back by tallying three unanswered goals — including a breathtaking backhander by Akil Thomas as he was falling down with 3:58 remaining in the game — to seal the 4-3 win.
A long-storied rivalry, this one was a no-holds-barred battle from the drop of the puck. Canada had to grind it out as they faced penalty after penalty in the opening frame with its penalty killers blocking shots and clearing the zone. Russia, who back on Dec. 28 handed the Canadians their worst-ever loss in world juniors history with a crushing 6-0 defeat, broke the scoreless affair off a sweet deflection from St. Louis Blues prospect Nikita Alexandrov. Canada’s Dylan Cozens tied the game up less than two minutes later, but Russia would go back ahead by two after Grigori Denisenko and Maxim Sorkin scored past Joel Hofer.
First, Calen Addison took a shot and the Canadians got the lucky break as it deflected off the Russian defender and Connor McMichael’s leg to beat Amir Miftakhov. Like Hofer, who stopped 35 of 38 shots, Miftkakhov was stellar in net — stopping 26 of 30 shots — but the bounce that went their way was just what the Canadians needed. Just over two minutes later, captain Barrett Hayton — who many did not expect to play after he left Saturday’s game with an arm injury after crashing into the boards and was a game-time decision — put his team on his back and with one rifled shot from the right circle tied the game
Thomas, who had not tallied a goal entering Sunday’s game, saved his best for last as he took advantage of a misplay by New Jersey Devils defenseman Danil Misyul in his own end. His goal sent the crowd and the Canadian bench into a tizzy as the comeback was complete. Russia did not muster many chances afterward and the Canadians were IIHF World Junior champions for the 18th time in the nation’s history.
The Canadians do have an impressive record when the Czech Republic hosts the tournament. They’ve medaled every year it has been played there, winning silver in 2002 and now three golds — in 1994 when the tournament was also in Ostrava, 2008 and 2020. With the win over Russia, it marked the fifth time Canada beat the rival in nine games since 1996.
Sporting News had all the action as Canada won gold at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Canada vs. Russia scores, highlights from 2020 World Juniors gold medal game
(All times Eastern.)
Final score: Canada 4, Russia 3
4:05 p.m. — Scenes from the celebration.
3:46 p.m. — Nikita Alexandrov named the player of the game for Russia and Barrett Hayton gets the award for Canada.
Here is the First Team @iihf_wjc All-Stars ⭐️ we revealed on @TSN_Sports Gold Medal ? preview show. We present the First Team All-Stars. G:Hofer ??D:Sandin ?? Romanov ?? F: Fagemo ?? Lafreniere ?? Hayton ??
3:40 p.m. — Grigori Denisenko takes a shot and his stick breaks. He holds onto the broken shaft and tried to play against Foudy. Denisenko called for the penalty and Russia down two men.
3:40 p.m. — Empty net for the Russians.
3:39 p.m. — Will skate 4-on-4 for 44 seconds and then Canada will have an extra man for about 35.
3:38 p.m. — Then with 44 seconds left on the power play, Pavel Dorofeyev knocks the stick out of Liam Foudy’s hands and is given an interference penalty (like what Veleno got earlier in the game).
3:37 p.m. — Aidan Dudas’ clearing shot goes off the camera and it’s not called a delay of game penalty. Russia is obviously irate as the (TSN) camera is behind the glass and there was no call.
3:36 p.m. — Russia not getting much set-up time in the first minute of the power play.
3:35 p.m. — Hofer with the save on Alexander Romanov.
3:33 p.m. — Now, with 2:41 left on the clock, Kevin Bahl gets called for hooking. Russia, after a timeout, will go 6-on-4.
3:30 p.m. — GOAL! Russia’s Danil Misyul misplays the puck in his own end above the circles. Akil Thomas gets the loose puck and skates in and while falling roofs the puck on the backhand. An unreal goal for his first goal of the tournament. Canada leads 4-3.
3:28 p.m. — Hayton gets hit along the boards by the penalty box and is in pain on the bench.
3:26 p.m. — Buckle up! Tie game with 5:44 left on the clock.
3:19 p.m. — PP GOAL! Wow! Barrett Hayton! Sitting on the off-wing, he gets the pass in the right circle and rifles the wrister top shelf. Game tied 3-3.
3:18 p.m. — Canada will head to the power play. The Canadians are 1-for-5 in the game with the man advantage.
3:17 p.m. — Hofer stops a point shot through traffic. Under nine minutes remaining.
3:13 p.m. — The goal is reviewed to see if he purposely directed it — but, nope, it’s a goal! Back to being a one-goal game.
3:11 p.m. — GOAL! Just 34 seconds after Russia takes a two-goal lead, Connor McMichael has a shot by Calen Addison deflect off his legs and in. Canada trails 3-2.
3:09 p.m. — GOAL. Ilya Kruglov feeds Maxim Sorkin out in front and he buries the shot. His first point of the game. Canada trails 3-1.
3:03 p.m. — Ty Dellandrea cuts to the middle but his shot sails high and wide.
3:02 p.m. — Connor McMichael on a breakaway down the left wing but Amir Miftakhov makes the blocker save.
3:00 p.m. — After a slight delay to fix a net, Canada starts the third period on the power play.
3:00 p.m. — Second-period shots on goal: Canada 16, Russia 14
Second period: Russia 2, Canada 1
2:40 p.m. — Right at the buzzer, Yegor Zamula cross-checks Barrett Hayton to the face and Canada will start the period on the power play, down by one.
2:38 p.m. — Dylan Cozens had blocked a shot and was in some discomfort on the bench but motions that he’s ok. Around the same time, Jacob Bernard-Docker laid down the boom.
2:33 p.m. — Just prior to that goal Liam Foudy had a great chance on a one-timer as he was crashing the net but Amir Miftakhov read the play perfectly.
2:30 p.m. — GOAL. Russia retakes the lead as Joel Hofer takes a shot that sounded like it went off the mask and cannot control the rebound. Grigori Denisenko shoves the puck into the net. Canada trails 2-1.
2:25 p.m. — Canada now on a 5-on-4 but do not score.
2:24 p.m. — Amir Miftakhov thinks he was interfered with but no call.
2:23 p.m. — PP GOAL! Joe Veleno distracts the Russian defenseman in front and Dylan Cozens is left all alone to bury the loose puck. Game tied 1-1.
2:21 p.m. — Within seconds of taking a penalty, Russia takes another one when they touch up and Canada will go on a full two-minute 5-on-3 power play.
2:19 p.m. — The top line of Lafreniere, Hayton and Cozens comes out and gets a number of chances — Cozens shoots wide, then Cozens in front on the backhand can’t tuck it in and Lafreniere can’t score on the rebound.
2:17 p.m. — Goal is being reviewed, probably to see if it was hit with a high-stick — and it’s not close. Good goal.
2:16 p.m. — PP GOAL. Yegor Zemula’s point shot is deflected down by Nikita Alexandrov and beats Hofer between the legs. Canada trails 1-0.
2:14 p.m. — Hofer another big-time save — this one off of the paddle.
2:12 p.m. — Hayton called for holding the stick but it is a questionable call. Regardless Canada is shorthanded again.
2:09 p.m. — Joel Hofer with a big save on Alexander Khovanov as he streaks in.
2:07 p.m. — Lots of scramble in front of the Russian net but the Canadians — including Alexis Lafreniere and Bowen Byram — can’t bury the loose puck.
Key: + is for shots saved by goalkeeper; < is for blocked shots; – is missed shot
2:04 p.m. — Canada cannot convert and it’s back to 5-on-5.
2:00 p.m. — Canada breaks out 3-on-2, Dylan Cozens with a good high shot that Miftakhov sends it to the middle. Lots of scrambling in the slot but in the end, Canada gets a power play as the puck was covered by the closed hand of a Russian player.
1:59 p.m. — Second period underway. Hayton not penalized for the high-stick.
1:59 p.m. — Going to go out on a limb and say that was the Canadian contingent . . .
Referees booed as they return to the ice for the second period
1:42 p.m. — Barrett Hayton’s stick comes up and smacks Yegor Sokolov in the face as the first period ends. Canada may start the second down a man again.
1:41 p.m. — Russia held to two shots on net. It is now 0-for-4 with the man advantage.
1:38 p.m. — Jamie Drysdale with a block and it stung him. He is limping around.
1:36 p.m. — After the penalty expires, the Russians go right back on the power play as Kevin Bahl is called for slashing. Canada doing well on the penalty kill but can’t keep giving the Russians the opportunity.
1:34 p.m. — Hofer makes a good save on a point shot that may have handcuffed him slightly and then follows it up seconds later with another key stop as the puck goes off the skate of McIsaac
1:32 p.m. — As we’ve seen all tournament long, the referees are going to call it tight. Ty Smith now gets called for holding and Canada will be shorthanded for the third time in the game.
1:30 p.m. — Akil Thomas with a big block on the penalty kill right after Jacob McIsaac does the same.
1:27 p.m. — Joe Veleno gets called for interference as he goes to lift a stick and it goes flying. They’ll skate 4-on-4 for 27 seconds and then Russia gets power-play time.
1:27 p.m. — Alexander Romanov block a Hayton shot and it appears to sting the Russian defender.
1:25 p.m. — Joe Veleno gets slashed in the neutral zone and is seen flexing his hand but stays on the ice. Canada will head to its first power play.
1:21 p.m. — By the way, for the superstitious readers: Canada’s wearing the black (a.k.a. the best) jersey again today. The Canadians wore them against the Czech Republic in the preliminary round, Slovakia in the quarterfinals and Finland in the semifinal.
1:18 p.m. — Lots of centering passes by both teams but none are connecting.
1:15 p.m. — Joel Hofer has looked stellar thus far and makes a big save on the penalty kill.
1:13 p.m. — Jared McIaasc takes a penalty and Russia will get the first power play of the game. Russia has scored seven power-play goals in the last three games.
1:09 p.m. — Bowen Byram and Barrett Hayton have taken their first shifts of the game.
1:09 p.m. — Liam Foudy with a chance early on and right off the post.
1:08 p.m. — Game on!
Pregame
1:03 p.m. — It is loud at Ostravar Arena.
12:49 p.m. — Canada’s lineup.
12:44 p.m. — History in the making.
Here we go again … Canada and Russia meet for gold for the 9th time.
MONTREAL – Josef Martinez and Caden Clark scored as CF Montreal defeated Chicago Fire FC 2-0 for a crucial Major League Soccer win on Saturday.
Martinez opened the scoring in the 21st minute to put Montreal ahead before Clark buried the insurance-marker in the 74th before an announced 19,619 spectators at Saputo Stadium.
Nathan Saliba, Kwadwo Opoku and captain Samuel Piette added assists as Montreal (8-12-10) extended its unbeaten run to three games (2-0-1) amid a late push to reach the MLS playoffs.
Montreal entered the match 13th in the Eastern Conference standings with 31 points, but only two behind Philadelphia Union, which occupied the second wild-card spot in ninth. Laurent Courtois’ squad has four games remaining in the regular season.
Chicago (7-16-8) began the day in 14th with 29 points and one more game played than Montreal, but failed to threaten goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois until late in the match.
Meanwhile, Montreal created offence with long passes in behind Chicago’s back line throughout the match.
In the second minute, Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty broke in down the right wing before playing a dangerous ball into the box for Martinez, who swung and missed on his attempt.
Martinez later just barely stayed onside to score his team-leading seventh of the season. The veteran striker corralled a long ball from Nathan Saliba into the box before slicing a half-volley past Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady.
In the 37th minute, Bryce Duke went on the counter-attack with numbers, but kept the ball instead of laying a through ball to Martinez and ultimately sailed his outside shot over the crossbar.
Chicago played cautiously, content holding the ball without pushing forward through 45 minutes. Montreal led the shot attempts five to one.
Montreal was back on the attack early in the second half as Piette found Caden Clark on the left side of the box. Clark danced around a sliding Chicago defender Arnaud Souquet, but kicked his Grade A opportunity over the net.
Clark later got on the board with his second goal in three games. Opoku, who entered in the 72nd minute as a substitute, took a pass from Piette before finding Clark in alone. Clark showed poise with a cheeky chip over Brady to give Montreal the comfortable lead.
Substitute Matias Coccaro nearly made it 3-0 in the 85th when he was sent on a breakaway, but Brady came out to challenge and stopped his attempt.
Sirois had a busy end to the match as Chicago pressed for a goal in the final minutes. He turned away a header from Thomas Barlow at the centre of the box, a dangerous shot by Souquet streaking down the right wing and a header by Tobias Salquist in the dying minutes.
NOTES
Montreal defender Raheem Edwards reached 10,000 minutes in MLS at the 23-minute mark. In 10 seasons, the journeyman has played for Montreal (twice), Toronto FC, Chicago, Minnesota United FC, Los Angeles FC and L.A. Galaxy, totalling eight goals and 28 assists. … Fire winger Ariel Lassiter returned to Saputo Stadium after being traded from Montreal to Chicago on Aug. 14. The Costa Rica international had three goals and seven assists in Montreal this season. … Fire top scorer Hugo Cuypers missed his second game after the birth of his son.
UP NEXT
Montreal: Hosts the San Jose Earthquakes next Saturday.
Chicago: Hosts Toronto FC next Saturday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2024.
WINNIPEG – Jesper Wallstedt left a lot Jets hopefuls shaking their heads on Saturday night.
The Minnesota goalie stopped 38 of 40 shots as the Wild whipped Winnipeg 5-2 in an NHL pre-season game.
Ben Jones, Jakub Lauko, Graeme Clarke, Daemon Hunt and Caeden Bankier scored for Minnesota.
Colby Barlow and Colin Miller replied for Winnipeg.
Kaapo Kahkonen made 23 saves on 28 shots for Winnipeg at the Canada Life Centre.
As per a typically sloppy pre-season game, there were a myriad of turnovers, many of which led to Wild chances and-or goals.
Barlow scored with 46 seconds left on setup from Brayden Yager.
Jones gave the Wild a 5-1 lead early in the third period. He stole the puck from Mason Shaw behind the net and slipped the puck past Kahkonen for an unassisted marker.
Minnesota was close to making it 5-1 but Kahkonen stopped Cameron Crotty on a breakaway with the final seconds of the second period ticking away. The Jets actually outshot Minnesota 29-17 through the first 40 minutes.
The Wild took a 4-0 lead when Lauko blocked a Miller shot at the Minnesota blue line, then raced up the ice with a breakaway. He finished it off by beating Kahkonen cleanly with a wrist shot.
Minnesota upped the score to 3-1 almost midway through the middle frame. Clarke’s shot deflected off a Jet near the front of the net and past Kahkonen. Declan Chisholm assisted.
The Jets finally got on the scoreboard when Miller beat Wallstedt with a wrister from the point with 1:03 left in the opening frame to pull within 2-1. Vladislav Namestnikov assisted.
The Wild had taken a 2-0 first-period lead, converting a pair of power plays. With Hayden Fleury off for tripping, Hunt beat Kahkonen with a slapshot from the blue line. Luke Toporowski and Ryder Ritchie assisted.
Minnesota had opened the scoring on the power play. With Alex Iafallo off for slashing, Bankier pounced on a puck that had bounced off Elias Salomonsson’s skate and beat Kahkonen from in front of the net for an unassisted goal.
The Jets outshot Minnesota 10-5 in the first period with Mason Appleton getting off the most dangerous shot.
NOTES
Finnish defenceman Ville Heinola suffered a setback when it was discovered that an infection had set in where he had had surgery on an ankle fractured during last season’s pre-season. He may require another surgery. That will be updated next week. … Winnipeg’s Fleury reportedly played despite his wife giving birth to a son on Friday night. The defenceman who played for the Tampa Bay Lightning last season, was signed as a free agent the past summer. … The Jets held a moment of silence for Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who were killed by a reportedly drunken driver while cycling.
UP NEXT
Jets: Visit the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday afternoon.
Wild: Visit the Dallas Stars on Wednesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2024.
EDMONTON – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have a nickname for the opposition’s end zone. They refer to it as the “chicken box.”
So, after each of running back Brady Oliveira’s two fourth-quarter touchdowns, he did a chicken dance.
Oliveira ran for 127 yards on 18 carries, scored twice and led the surging Blue Bombers to a 27-14 win over the Edmonton Elks Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium.
For Oliveira, those were his first two touchdowns of the season, an odd stat for a rusher who has 1,021 yards on the year.
“Man, we got in the chicken box tonight,” said Oliveira. “It felt real good to get that monkey off my back. It really felt good to celebrate with my boys in the end zone.”
For the West Division-leading Bombers (8-6), it was their sixth straight win. The Elks (5-9) lost for just the second time in seven games.
“I dance like a chicken, cluck like a chicken,” said Oliveira. “They call it the chicken box, the chicken coop, when you get in the end zone. So there’s a little bit of a joke going on, over the last couple of weeks, ‘how come I haven’t got in the chicken box?’
“We knew that, whenever it was going to happen, our celebration was to cluck like a chicken. So, that’s exactly what we did.”
While Oliveira had a breakout night, Tre Ford’s return as the Edmonton Elks starting quarterback did not go according to plan
Ford lost a fumble and threw two interceptions.
“I don’t think I played well, I think the turnovers were a big thing, I think that is what killed us and killed some of our drives,” Ford said. “We could have put points up, that’s how the game goes, there’s turnovers in it.
“Obviously you try to limit how many of those you do and I didn’t do a good job of that today.”
With the score tied 10-10 in the fourth quarter, Ford’s underthrown pass was picked off by Blue Bombers linebacker Michael Ayers, who returned the ball to the Elks’ 36-yard line. Oliveira then unleashed a punishing run of 30 yards, followed by a six-yard touchdown scamper, to put the Blue Bombers ahead for good.
Oliveira also scored a late touchdown on a five-yard burst up the middle.
Bombers coach Mike O’Shea said Ayers, a backup, got more playing time because of his impressive work on special teams.
“It was right on time. I think they just had a big run, too. So, he just got up and picked the ball and he was in a bit of no man’s land. But he went up and got it — and good for him. It’s nice for a young guy, when he makes a play, that his teammates are so excited for him.”
Oliveira said the Bombers imposed their will on the Elks late in the game.
“We were getting a lot of good movement up front. You really just start to feel it when you start imposing your will on another grown man. Our offensive line was doing that in the second half, and allowing me to do what I do. I think I ran better in the second half, maybe not being as timid, really I was just getting north and trusting my ability.”
The Elks wasted a fantastic rushing day from Justin Rankin, who went for 157 yards on 14 attempts.
Ford finished with 10 completions on 17 passing attempts, and just 131 yards. Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros went 19-for-27 for 191 yards.
Ford was restored as the Elks starting quarterback for the Winnipeg game, another chapter in the Elks’ quarterback saga., After the Elks lost seven in a row to start the year, Ford supplanted McLeod-Bethel Thompson as the starter. Ford started two games, but was knocked out with a rib injury. A rejuvenated Bethel-Thompson was 3-1 in four subsequent starts, but Elks coach Jarious Jackson made the decision to go back to Ford for the Winnipeg game.
After Ford’s struggles, Bethel-Thompson was reinstated as the Elks quarterback midway through the fourth quarter.
In the first half, Ford fumbled on a quarterback draw and, later in the half, a screen pass bounced off the hands of Elks running back Rankin and into the waiting arms of Bombers’ defensive back Tony Jones.
Jones also recovered a fumble from Elks running back Kevin Brown.
Collaros threw a pick of his own — with Elks defensive back Darrius Bratton snatching the team’s 10th interception over the last three games.
The Bombers scored on their opening drive of the second half, punctuated by an 11-yard touchdown from Collaros to Ontaria Wilson.
Ford responded with the razzle-dazzle he’s become known for in his short CFL career. On a flea-flicker from Rankin, Ford connected on a 26-yard touchdown strike to Geno Lewis. The ball was underthrown after Rankin pitched the ball back to the quarterback, but Lewis adjusted and was able to scamper into the end zone after beating two defenders to the ball.
NOTES
Elks linebacker Nyles Morgan reached the 300-tackle mark for his CFL career. … The Elks’ Leon O’Neal Jr. was ejected for rough play in the third quarter. … The Blue Bombers have won 10 in a row against the Elks.
UP NEXT
This was the first time Winnipeg and Edmonton matched up this season, but they’ll meet again on Friday in the Manitoba capital.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2024.
