It was a golden finish for Connor Bedard and Canada at the IIHF world under-18 championship in Frisco. Tex.
The Regina Pats’ protégé recorded a goal and an assist as Canada defeated Russia 5-3 to clinch its first under-18 world title since 2013.
The 15-year-old Bedard, the youngest player on Canada’s roster, finished the championship with 14 points on seven goals and seven assists.
Shane Wright, with two, Brennan Othmann and Logan Stankoven scored for Canada. Matvei Michkov, Dmitri Buchelnikov and Vladimir Grudin replied for Russia.
Russia jumped into a 1-0 lead at 5:13 of the first period when Michkov blasted a shot by Canada’s Ben Gaudreau. It was the Michkov’s 12th goal of the tournament, who led all scorers heading into the final with 11 goals and 13 points.
Bedard’s first scoring chance came in the opening period when he was awarded a penalty shot after being hooked by Arseni Koromslov. Bedard wasn’t able to finish as Sergei Ivanov made the save on the penalty shot.
Bedard atoned for the missed opportunity less than two minutes later, snapping a wicked backhander by Koromslov to tie the game 1-1 at 15:59 of the first period. The backhander was Bedard’s seventh goal of the championship.
Buchelnikov provided Russia with a 2-1 lead at 18:05 of the first period.
The Canadians took advantage of their first power-play opportunity when Wright snapped a shot by a screened Ivanov at 19:15 of the first period and the teams ended the opening 20 minutes tied 2-2.
Othmann staked Canada to a 3-2 lead by whistling a shot by Ivanov at 4:42 of the second period.
Canada increased its lead to 4-2 when Logan Stankoven scored at 16:39 of the second period.
Russia narrowed Canada’s lead to 4-3 on a power-play goal by at Grudin at 9:37 of the third period while Mason McTavish was serving a hooking minor. Michkov was credited with the assist, increasing his tournament-leading points total to 14 with 11 goals.
Wright iced the game on an empty-net goal at 19:20 of the third period with Bedard picking up the assist.
The news seems to be flying at us faster all the time. From COVID-19 updates to politics and crime and everything in between, it can be hard to keep up. With that in mind, the Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox to help make sure you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe.