(Logan Stankoven and Dylan Garand after winning 2022 World Juniors/via Kamloops Blazers @wes_stanky)
It didn’t seem like it was going to be as close as it was… but Canada wins gold at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Edmonton, as heard on Radio NL.
Canada took a 2-0 lead into the 3rd period over Finland, with goals by Joshua Roy and William Dufour.
However, the Finns came back to tie the game.
Finland got equalizers from Aleksi Heimosalmi and Joakim Kemell in the 3rd, sending a shutter through the crowd in Edmonton.
Goaltender Dylan Garand had very little chance on either of the goals, putting a question mark on Canada’s defense at the time.
Compounding the concern — Canada went 0-for-6 on the power play.
As such…tensions were tight as it went into overtime.
However, three-on-three, and after Captain Mason McTavish was able to rescue Canada from the ‘jaws of defeat’ with an amazing goal-line save…
GREATEST SAVE IN WORLD JUNIORS HISTORY?? pic.twitter.com/iRKMlGOw4Z
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) August 21, 2022
It was Kamloops product Logan Stankoven, earlier named one of Canada’s Top 3 Players on the squad, leading Canada down the ice…
THE GOLDEN GOAL! 🇨🇦🚨🥇#WorldJuniors | @19kjohnson pic.twitter.com/VfhZrvVBpS
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) August 21, 2022
FINAL | @19kjohnson was the overtime hero, scoring the winner 3:20 into the extra frame, and 🇨🇦 beat 🇫🇮 3-2 to win its 19th gold medal.
📰 https://t.co/NhTaqy4jiR#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/tCD10EDTyP
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) August 21, 2022
The accolades for Team Canada, and Kamloops product Stankoven, were quick to come in, including from local politicans.
Big Kamloops connection to this Gold Medal
— Ken Christian (@ken_kchristian) August 21, 2022
CONGRATULATIONS to #Kamloops #Thompson #Cariboo’s own @LoganStankoven and the rest of Team Canada for winning the gold. What a game!#GoCanadaGo
— Frank Caputo MP (@FrankCaputoKTC) August 21, 2022
The gold-medal game featured the biggest crowd of the tournament. It was the only time that seats were opened to fans in the upper bowl of Rogers Place in Edmonton.
“(One of) the best crowds I’ve ever played in front of,” said Stankoven after the victory.
L🥇gan Stank🥇oven!
📸 IG @LoganStankoven pic.twitter.com/O00XqOydv6— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) August 21, 2022
Sweden took the Bronze medal with a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in the earlier game on Saturday.
