Canada’s National Junior Team captured bronze at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship with a 6–3 win over Finland, powered by a record-setting performance from its blueline and a bounce-back effort less than 24 hours after semifinal heartbreak.
Bronze medal recap
Canada doubled up Finland 6–3 in the bronze medal game at Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota, earning the country’s 36th medal at the World Juniors (20 gold, 10 silver, 6 bronze) since 1977.
- Forward Gavin McKenna (Whitehorse, YT/Penn State University, Big Ten) led the way with one goal and three assists.
- Sam O’Reilly (Toronto, ON/London, OHL) scored twice, while Braeden Cootes (Sherwood Park, AB/Seattle, WHL) and captain Porter Martone (Peterborough, ON/Michigan State University, Big Ten) added singles.
- Canada led 3–2 after the first period and 5–3 after two before McKenna sealed the victory in the third.
Playmakers Tij Iginla (Lake Country, BC/Kelowna, WHL), Keaton Verhoeff (Fort Saskatchewan, AB/University of North Dakota, NCHC) and Liam Greentree (Oshawa, ON/Windsor, OHL) each chipped in with assists, contributing to a full-team offensive effort.
Goaltender Carter George (Thunder Bay, ON/Owen Sound, OHL) turned aside 32 shots in his eighth and final World Juniors appearance across two tournaments, backstopping Canada to the podium one last time. A complete game summary is available on Hockey Canada’s website.
Individual milestones and records
Several Canadian skaters left Saint Paul with more than just bronze medals.
- Michael Hage (Mississauga, ON/University of Michigan, Big Ten) recorded four assists in the bronze medal game and finished the tournament as overall scoring leader with 15 points (2–13—15). His 13 assists are the second-highest single-tournament total by a Canadian, behind only Connor Bedard’s 14 in 2023.
- Defenceman Zayne Parekh (Nobleton, ON/Calgary, NHL) had a goal and an assist and set two national records for blueliners at the World Juniors:
- Most points by a Canadian defenceman in a single tournament (13), surpassing Bryan McCabe (1995) and Alex Pietrangelo (2010).
- Most goals by a Canadian defenceman in a single tournament (5), breaking a shared mark previously held by Kris Russell (2007) and Thomas Chabot (2017).
Parekh called the day “bittersweet,” noting that while individual records are meaningful, the ultimate goal remains a gold medal. He emphasized how proud he is of the group and the lifelong bonds formed in the process.
Resilience after semifinal disappointment
Both the captain and head coach highlighted how quickly the group had to reset emotionally after a difficult semifinal loss.
- Captain Porter Martone praised his teammates’ resilience, saying the room was full of “tears and disappointment” the night before, but the group responded with a complete 60-minute effort that he will remember for a long time.
- Head coach Dale Hunter (Petrolia, ON/London, OHL) acknowledged that both bronze-medal opponents had to overcome the sting of missing the final, but felt his team “came out hard,” worked, and earned something they can be proud of, even if the ultimate goal was gold.
Their comments underline a central theme of this tournament for Canada: the ability to regroup quickly and finish on a high note despite adversity.
Looking ahead to the 2027 World Juniors
The next chapter for Canada’s National Junior Team comes on home ice.
- The 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship will be staged in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, from Dec. 26, 2026, to Jan. 5, 2027.
- Fans interested in attending can enter the 2027 World Juniors Priority Draw for free, with the entry deadline set for tomorrow at 11:59 p.m. MT. Details and registration are available at HockeyCanada.ca/PriorityDraw.
For ongoing updates on Canada’s National Junior Team, fans can visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow Hockey Canada on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.
