|
Canada wins U-18 bronze
By
QMI Agency
|
  
|
  Canadian goalkeeper Matt Murray dives for a puck during the IIHF U-18 World Championships bronze medal game against Finland in Brno, Czech Republic, April 22, 2012. (RADEK MICA/AFP) |
When you've gone four years between medals, any colour will do.
Canada posted a 5-4 overtime win over Finland to claim the bronze at the world under-18 hockey championship Sunday in Brno, Czech Republic, ending a medal drought at the spring tournament that dated back to 2008.
That year Canada won gold. Since then, zilch. So the bronze medal is something to be cherished.
"This isn't a tournament that we've historically medalled in very often," Canadian coach Jesse Wallin said. "We fell a little bit short of our goal, but at the same time given the situation, we're certainly happy coming home with something as opposed to nothing."
Hunter Shinkaruk of the Medicine Hat Tigers scored his third of the game just over two minutes into overtime to give Canada the win. Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice and Brendan Gaunce of the Belleville Bulls had the other goals for Canada while defenceman Mathew Dumba had three assists to finish as the tournament's top scorer.
Henrik Haapala had two goals for Finland while Artturi Lehkonen and Rasmus Ristolainen also scored.
The U.S. whipped Sweden 7-0 in the gold-medal game. It was the fourth consecutive gold at the tournament for the Americans.
