Canada emerged victorious in the 2024 Under-18 IIHF Men’s World Championship over the USA with a thrilling 6-4 win. The game was a tale of two halves, with the U.S. dominating the first two periods and outshooting Canada by nearly twenty shots, taking a 3-2 lead. However, midway through the third period, a pivotal moment occurred when USA’s Trevor Connelly hit Canadian winger Ryder Ritchie hard, resulting in a major penalty and game misconduct for illegal checking to the head. This allowed Canada to capitalize on their opponent’s mistake and scored three goals to regain control of the game.
Coach Gardiner MacDougall praised his team’s resiliency and grit, highlighting their ability to overcome adversity and come back from what seemed like an insurmountable situation. The star forward Gavin McKenna recorded a hat trick and four points to lead Canada to victory. He was named as one of the media all-star team along with Carter George in goal, Cole Hutson and Luka Radivojevic on defense, James Hagens on offense, McKenna as forward too.
The tournament MVP was James Hagens who set new record for points in single tournament match during this championship showcasing his outstanding performance throughout it all. NHL teams closely monitored standout players such as Hagens, McKenna, among others who displayed exceptional skill on ice during this tournament. The 2024 Under-18 IIHF Men’s World Championship showcased not just talent but also determination of young hockey players from around the world leaving fans and scouts alike impressed with their performances