Canada came out flying and absolutely dismantled Norway 8-0 in a total masterclass of speed, skill, and finishing. Dima Zhilkin stole the show with a hat trick and an assist, looking unstoppable as he sniped one early, redirected another, and then danced around the defense for his third. The Canadians poured it on with power-play goals and slick even-strength plays, building a 3-0 lead after the first period and never looking back. Jaxon Jacobson chipped in with a pair of his own, while the whole squad dominated shots (66-12) and pinned Norway deep in their zone for long stretches. Gavin Betts stood tall in net for the clean sheet, and the young Canadians looked every bit like defending champs on a mission. It was the kind of dominant, fun-to-watch performance that gets the whole bench going and sets them up nicely heading into the Finland showdown.
Beckett Hamilton makes it 1-0 Canada at 9:55 of the first period. The assists on the goal going to Ryan Lin and Alessandro Di Iorio.–In a clinical display of opportunism, Saskatoon product Beckett Hamilton fired home the game’s first goal, giving Canada a 1-0 lead over Norway early in their matchup at the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship.
Dima Zhilkin makes it 2-0 Canada on the Power Play at 16:49 of the first period. The helpers on the goal went to Vancouver Giants Mathis Preston and his ex-teammate University of Denver commit Ryan Lin.–Dima Zhilkin scored his first goal of the game (making it 2-0 for Canada against Norway) midway through the first period by redirecting a feed from Mathis Preston in front of the net, with Ryan Lin earning the secondary assist.
3-0 Canada when Tynan Lawrence scores at 19:30 of the first period. The assist on the goal went to Dima Zhilin and Mathis Preston.–Tynan Lawrence scored on a power play by collecting a pass after board work pulled the defender out of position, then sliding a shot across the front of the net and in at the back door just before the first intermission.
Shots on goal in the first period were 22-3 for Canada
Brandon Wheat King Jaxon Jacobsen makes it a 4-0 game for the Canadians at 1:49 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to captain Keaton Verhoeff and Soo Greyhounds Callum Croskery.–Tynan Lawrence rips home his first career U18 Worlds goal in his debut game, snapping a sharp wrister through the five-hole from the slot to make it 2-0 for Canada and light the lamp just like that.
Dima Zhilkin makes it 5-0 Canada at 8:39 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to Tynan Lawrence and Jean-Christoph Lemieux. Zhilkin scores his second goal of the game marking the end of Norwegian goalie Felix Timraz-Westin night.
It became a 6-0 game at 17:31 of the second period when Dima Zhilkin completed his hat trick. The helpers on the goal went to Lucas Ambrosio and Tynan Lawrence.
Shots on goal in the second period were 22-7 for Canada
Brandon, Manitoba native Jaxon Jacobsen gets his second goal of the game to make it 7-0 on the Power Play at 4:34 of the third period. The assists on the goal went to Quebec Remparts Maddox Dagenais and Kohyn Eshkawkogan
8-0 Canada when Zach Olsen scores unassisted at 14:21 of the third period.
Shots on goal in the third period were 22-2 for Canada. Canada outshot Norway 66-12 in the game.
For Canada Gavin Betts stopped all 12 shots that he faced for the shutout win. For the busy Norweigans Felix Timraz-Westin stopped 31 of the 36 shots that he faced before being replaced after the 5th goal of the game in the second period. He was replaced by Olivers Freimanis who stopped 27 of the 30 shots that he faced. Ironocially enough Timraz-Westin was pulled in last years tournament and replaced by Olivers Freimanis against Canada. Norway lost 8-1 in that game.
The Canadian Player of the Game is Dima Zhilkin. The Norwegian Player of the Game is Sondre Berg.
Canada’s next game is Monday April 27th bright and early in the morning again. Norway has a critical game vs Latvia tomorrow, where anything except a Norwegian OT win will send the loser to the relegation game.
