Canada didn’t get the gold medal that it wanted.
But it rebounded less than 24 hours after falling to Czechia in the semifinals and will leave Minnesota with a bronze medal after a 6-3 victory against Finland on Monday, Jan. 5.
Canada showed an efficient offense and got three more goals from its impressive power play. Gavin McKenna, a projected No. 1 overall pick, had a goal and three assists. Michael Hage also had four points. Sam O’Reilly scored twice. Zayne Parekh had a goal and an assist and became Canada’s all-time top-scoring defenseman at the tournament.
Goalie Carter George got the call in net and finished with 32 saves.
Sweden and Czechia will play in the gold-medal game to finish the 2026 tournament. The 2027 version will be in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta.
USA TODAY Sports provided live updates on the bronze medal game between Canada and Finland. Here are the highlights:
They were hoping for gold, but they do head home with a medal after back-to-back ousters in the quarterfinals the last two tournaments. Canada will host the 2027 tournament in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta.
Gavin McKenna for Canada, Arttu Valila for Finland.
Canada captures a bronze medal, getting three power play goals and an efficient offense. Sam O’Reilly scores twice and Gavin McKenna and Michael Hage have four points each. Zayne Parekh sets a record for most career points by a Canadian defenseman.
It’s 6-on-5.
Carter George gets a big save on Arttu Valila.
Finland’s Petteri Rimpinen loses his stick as Canada pressures. Gavin McKenna has a wide-open net to shoot at. He has four points in the game. So does MIchael Hage, who draws an assist. Canada 6, Finland 3
After killing off a penalty, Finland gets a power play when Ethan MacKenzie is called for holding. Finland is 1-for-2 in the game. Canada’s Jett Luchanko gets a shorthanded breakaway, but Finnish goalie Petteri Rimpinen makes a glove save.
Hage was on the power play so he’s back in action.
Finland called for too many men on the ice. The Finns kill it off.
Finland has a carryover power play. And that’s killed off.
Canada gets another power play goal to pad its lead, but Finland kills off the last Canadian man advantage and Heikki Ruohonen scores to make it closer.
Michael Misa is called for holding. There will be a carryover of 33 seconds into the third period.
The Canadian forward is not on the bench after taking a hard fall earlier in the game, TSN reports.
Heikki Ruohonen shows nice speed getting to the right faceoff circle and fires over a sliding defenseman and past Carter George to get Finland closer. Canada 5, Finland 3.
Emil Hemming is called for slashing. Canada is 2-for-2 so far. Finland kills that one off as Canada hits a post.
Canada’s vaunted power play strikes again. Sam O’Reilly gets his second goal of the game on a deflection. Canada 5, Finland 2
Heikki Ruohonen slashes Michael Misa. Canada has a power play goal in this game.
Martone takes the tournament lead with his sixth goal. Zayne Parekh adds an assist to give him 13 career points, a Canadian record for a defenseman. Canada 4, Finland 2
3-2 Canada.
These teams’ first meeting ended at 7-4 Canada. This one is equally high scoring. Zayne Parekh has the go-ahead goal and ties the record for most points by a Canadian defenseman at the world junior championships.
It’s his fifth goal of the tournament. It would have been his sixth, but his semifinal goal was awarded to Cole Reschy earlier Monday. Parekh ties Alex Pietrangelo and Bryan McCabe for most points (12) by a Canadian defenseman. Canada 3, Finland 2
Lasse Boelius cross-checks Cole Beaudoin to prevent a scoring change.
Finland work the puck around well on the power play, but Carter George makes some good saves. After a failed Canada clearing attempt, the Finns work it to Julius Miettinen, who beats George from the right faceoff circle. Canada 2, Finland 2
Zayne Parekh gets called for holding as he tackles a Finland player.
Braeden Cootes gives Canada the lead again. That’s three goals in less than five minutes in this game. Canada 2, Finland 1
Arttu Valila scores on the first Finland shot. He had scored the overtime winner against the USA in the quarterfinals. Canada 1, Finland 1
Sam O’Reilly scores 70 seconds into the game. Michael Hage and Gavin McKenna pick up the assists. Canada 1, Finland 0
Goalie matchup is Canada’s Carter George vs. Finland’s Petteri Rimpinen.
TV channel: NHL Network
Livestream: Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers, or Sling TV.
Date: Monday, Jan. 5
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET (3:30 local time)
The Canada vs. Finland game is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. ET at the Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the home of the Minnesota Wild.
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 5
Location: Grand Casino Arena (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
TV: NHL Network
Streaming: Fubo and certain levels of Sling TV carry NHL Network.
Monday, Jan. 5
All times p.m. ET
Canada vs. Finland (bronze), 4:30
Sweden vs. Czechia (gold), 8:30
No Brady Martin, who was injured in the semifinal. Liam Greentree is dressing. Carter George will be the starting goalie, Jack Ivankovic, who played in the semifinal, isn’t dressed.
Penn State forward Gavin McKenna could go No. 1 overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. He has 10 points in six games at the tournament. Canada defenseman Zayne Parekh, a Flames prospect, is tied for the scoring lead with 11 points. Parekh and captain Porter Martone, a Flyers draft pick, are among the co-leaders with five goals.
Draft eligible Jasper Kuhta and Flyers prospect Heikki Ruohonen lead Finland with seven points each. Roope Vesterinen and Joona Saarelainen (Lightning) have four goals each.
The organization put out a statement on the death of David Branch, the former Ontario Hockey League commissioner and Canadian Hockey League president who died Sunday at 77. Branch ran the OHL, one of Canada’s three major junior hockey leagues, from 1979 until his retirement in 2024. He was CHL president from 1996 to 2019. “David’s impact on junior hockey in Canada is incalculable,” the statement said. “He played a significant role in helping establish Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence, and was recognized for his achievements by being invested into the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2016. Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and we know his legacy will continue to impact the game moving forward.”
Canada won 7-4 in their matchup on Dec. 31. Brad Martin had two goals in that game, but he left the semifinal game with an injury after a collision. Cole Beaudoin also had two goals, plus an assist, for Canada. Roope Vesterinen had a goal and an assist to lead Finland.
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