I do not think many had this on their bingo card. I think most thought Sweden was the hands down favourite. Canada crushed Sweden 7-0 in the 2025 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship gold medal game in Frisco, Texas. From the start, the Canadians controlled the ice, overpowering the Swedes with sharp offense and tight defense. Jack Ivankovic was a wall in net, posting a shutout, while Canada’s relentless attack locked in their second straight U18 title. This beatdown made history, as Canada became the first team to win back-to-back championships in the tournament.
Laval, Quebec native Xavier Villeneuve opens up the scoring for Canada at 4:06 of the first period with a rocket wrist shot from the point upstairs over the right shoulder of Love Harenstam to make it a 1-0 game.–Canada wasted no time in jumping ahead. Just 4:06 in, Swedish forward Milton Gastrin misplayed the puck in his own zone, and Xavier Villeneuve pounced, firing a low shot past Love Harenstam.
Brady Martin makes it a 2-0 game at 12:31 of the first period with the assists on the goal going to Cole Reschny and Quinn Beauchesne.– The Canadians doubled their lead at 12:31 off a fortuitous bounce. A point shot hit a cluster of bodies in front and the puck came to Cole Reschny who made a clever back pass to Brady Martin, who knocked the puck into the open net.
Shots on goal in the first period were 20-9 for Canada
Calgary, Alberta native Jackson Smith makes it 3-0 Canada at 4:56 of the third period with the assist going to Lev Katzin.–Canada widened its advantage early in the second period when Jackson Smith carved out room at the blue line and fired a shot through a screen, cleanly beating Harenstam.
Ethan Czata makes it 4-0 Canada when he scores his first goal of the tournament at 9:35 of the second period with the assist on the goal going to Calgary Hitmen star Ben Kindel.– Canada made it 4–0 off a turnover at their own blue line. Ethan Czata broke in on a 2-on-1 and sniped a blocker-side shot past Harenstam.
Brady Martin gets his second goal of the game to make it 5-0 at 12:54 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to Jack Nesbitt and Keaton Verhoeff.– Canada wasn’t done. After Sweden’s Melvin Novotny lost his stick behind the play, the Canadians surged ahead on an odd-man rush. Martin finished the play with his second goal of the game.
Shots on goal in the second period were 12-10 for Sweden
Mans Goos started in net for Sweden in the third period Man Goo lol🤔🤣The other guys name is Love. I better stop. Once this gets on late night comedy its over🤣🤣🤣
Braeden Cootes makes it 6-0 Canada 1:12 into the third period with the assists on the goal going to Tyler Hopkins and Cameron Schmidt.– Just over a minute in, Braeden Cootes found space and fired a sharp-angle shot that squeaked in.
Jack Nesbitt makes it 7-0 at 12:33 of the third period with the assists on the goal going to Ben Kindel and Alex Huang.–Canada closed out the scoring on the power play at 12:23, as Jack Nesbitt buried a rebound in tight after a shot from the point.
Shots on goal in the third period were 12-7 for Canada. Canada outshot Sweden in the game 42-28
For the Canadians Jack Ivankovic made saves on all 28 shots that he faced for the shutout. His second shutout in a row. Ivankovic had not let in a goal since the second period of the quarter final match against the Czechs. (147 minutes no goal). For Sweden Stockholm native Love Harenstam made 25 saves on the 30 shots that he faced in the first 40 minutes of play. In the third period Mans Goos went in for Sweden and stopped 10 of the 12 shots that he faced.
The star of the game for Canada was Brady Martin. For Sweden it was Sascha Boumedienne who plays for Boston University.
Attendance at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas was 1331
Following Canada’s gold medal victory on Saturday, Ethan Czata (Niagara IceDogs / OHL), Tyler Hopkins (Kingston Frontenacs / OHL), Alex Huang (Chicoutimi Saguenéens / QMJHL), and Cameron Schmidt (Vancouver Giants / WHL) joined Ivankovic, Erie Otters (OHL) defenceman Matthew Schaefer, and Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) forward Caleb Desnoyers as the only players to ever win gold for Team Canada at the U17s, U18s, and Hlinka Gretzky Cup. LINK
Bronze Medal Game overtime was needed and the US beat the Slovaks 4-3.
