Kamloops native Logan Stankoven is a gold medal winner with Team Canada at the 2021 U18 World Championships.
Stankoven scored the game-winning goal as Canada beat Russia 5-3 in the gold medal game in Frisco, Texas.
Connor Bedard, the 15-year-old Regina Pats forward, opened the scoring for Canada in the first period with his seventh goal of the tournament. His goal tied the game at 1-1, after Matvei Michkov opened the scoring for the Russians.
Dmitri Buchelnikov restored the Russians lead 2:06 later but captain Shane Wright ensured the first period ended at 2-2 when he scored on the power play with 45 seconds to play.
Brennan Othmann and Logan Stankoven each scored in the second to make it 4-2 Canada, before the Russians pulled one back midway in the third when Vladimir Grudinin scored at 9:37.
Shane Wright then scored his second of the night – and ninth of the tournament – on the empty net at 19:20 to seal the win, and Canada’s first gold medal at the U18 World Championships since 2013, a team that was coached by former Blazers head coach Don Hay.
This is Canada’s fourth gold medal at the tournament having also won in 2003 and 2008. It is also their first medal at the U18 Worlds since they won a bronze in 2015.
Stankoven, an NHL draft eligible forward in 2021, finished the tournament with eight points (four goals and four assists) in seven games.
Bedard finished the tournament with 14 points (seven goals and seven assists) in seven games tying Connor McDavid’s record for most points as a double underage player. Wright meanwhile finished with 14 points of his own (nine goals and five assists) in just five games.
Canada went unbeaten in the tournament winning games against Sweden, Latvia, Switzerland, and Belarus in the preliminary round before beating the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Russia in the knockout round.
(Photo via Hockey Canada)
Logan Stankoven extends the lead for Canada! 🚨
🇨🇦 4 – 2 🇷🇺#U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/IUIVS7Q9EK
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 7, 2021
GOLDEN YARDSALE! Canada locks up the Gold Medal at the Men’s #U18Worlds! 🥇 pic.twitter.com/0TXjVenLPv
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 7, 2021
🏆 @HockeyCanada ARE THE 2021 #U18WORLDS CHAMPIONS!!! 🥇
Read more 👉 https://t.co/gPSuzcWUuz pic.twitter.com/ti0k9DMpV3
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 7, 2021
