Canada Goes Medal less at the IIHF Men’s World Champs For The Third Straight Year

Norway defeated Canada 3-2 in overtime to secure their first medal in IIHF Men’s World Championships and cement Canada’s third year with no medals.

Canada Goes Medal less at the IIHF Men’s World Champs For The Third Straight Year

Norwegian Men’s Ice Hockey Team posing with their bronze medals after defeating Canada (Image via Norges Ishokeyforbund)

The Canadians are coming back home with no medals for the third time in a row. On Sunday, the Norwegians ended Canada’s hopes for a medal contention in overtime at the Men’s Ice Hockey World Championships, defeating them 3-2 in the bronze medal match at the Swiss Life Arena in Zurich.

After a sensational run in the group stage, topping the table with 20 points (6-1-0) and effortless victory 4-0 over their bitter rivals United States in the quarterfinals, it looked like it was Canada’s tournament. On Saturday, the eventual champions Finland answered in spectacular fashion to bid adieu to Canada’s gold medal dreams.

Patrick Puistola, Alexander Barkov, Konsta Helenius, and Aatu Raty scored for the Finnish side in the 4-2 victory in the semifinals. Barkov and Helenius also had one assist each. Mikael Granlund assisted twice. The Macklin Celebrini-led side could only be a bystander to the Finnish offense. In the bronze medal match, it was the Norwegians’ chance to outshine.

On Sunday, Norway ended a year long drought as they stood on the IIHF World Champs podium for the first time in history. The Norwegians went 2-0 up before the Canadians risked it all playing with an extra attacker to level the scores towards the end of regulation time. Robert Thomas scored twice in 58:44 and 59:52 as the game went into overtime.

The gut wrenching loss was almost immediate. AHLer Noah Steen took it on himself to deliver the bad news, shooting the puck past Jet Greaves of Canada to win a medal of any color for the first time.

In the gold medal match that followed the Norwegians’ win, Finland was crowned Men’s World Champs for the fifth time. They defeated hosts Switzerland 0-1 OT in the tightly fought final. The Swiss once again fell short of winning the gold medal, finishing as runners up for the third consecutive season.

The Canadians’ current drought is reminiscent of the five year medalless campaign from 2010 to 2014, when they didn’t make a single final four even. Three years ago, before the now prevailing rut started, the Canadians were the champions for the second time in three years.

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Macklin Celebrini’s first tournament as captain ends in a disappointing result

The IIHF Men’s World Championships 2026 in Switzerland was more than just a season chasing the elusive gold. It also represented a shift in the Canadian contingent, as a young Macklin Celebrini was given the helms of the national team with veteran captain Sidney Crosby serving as an assistant captain.

Macklin Celebrini
Macklin Celebrini (Image via @GinoHard_ on X)

Celebrini, playing in his second season in NHL, had a sensational run at the Olympics, being named to the All-Star Team. In this tournament also, Celebrini brought out his best form, finishing being Switzerland’s Sven Andrighetto as the second-highest points getter of the season with 14. He scored six goals and assisted eight times in ten games. He was also named to the all-star team of the tournament.

Nonetheless, the way the season ended sure tinged the 19-year-old with a bit of disappointment as he awaits his first WC medal. After the match to Norway, Celebrini spoke to the media and addressed the result.

Probably one of the biggest honors I’ve had so far. To do it with these guys and this group, it was an unbelievable experience. But as I said, it was really sour how it ended. Just because of what we had and the way we played and what we were capable of.

Macklin Celebrini said of being the captain of the Canadian team at the World Champs

Celebrini will now turn his attention to having a decent offseason and prepare for the next season with the San Jose Sharks

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