Canada's World Junior Hockey team won gold in the Czech Republic on Sunday, in a photo-finish, come-from-behind 4-3 victory over Russia.
The match got off to a rocky start for Canada, but it all came together in the final frame. Down two goals to their Russian counterparts in the third, the team battled back with three goals in third to secure Canada's first World Junior Championship gold since 2018.
Neither team managed to beat their opposing goaltender in the first period, resulting in a clean scoreboard heading into the second.
That didn't mean the first 20 minutes was without its fair share of action. Russia's Nikita Alexandrov earned his team two minutes in penalty time for slashing, while Canada spent eight minutes in the sin bin for tripping, slashing, interference and holding.
Shots on goal were 10-7 in favour of Russia after the first 20 minutes.
Russia's Nikita was the first to celebrate a goal in the gold-medal affair, scoring nine minutes in with assists from Yegor Zamula and Grigori Denisenko.
Canada's Dylan Cozens evened the score a little less than two minutes later, with help from Joe Veleno and Alexis Lafreniere, but it wouldn't take long for Russia to regain their advantage.
Denisenko returned to the net at 14:34 to close out the period with one final goal for Russia, with assists from Alexander Romanov and Yegor Sokolov.
Russia was the most penalized team in the second -- eight minutes total for holding the puck, slashing, holding and roughing. Canada had just a single holding penalty.
Canada moved into the final frame down one, ahead in shots on goal at 16-14.
Russia opened up the third period with a goal by Maxim Sorkin at 8:46, with an assist by Ilya Kruglov, inspiring a heavy-handed response from their northern rivals.
London Knights' Connor McMichael took control of the puck and cut Russia's lead to one less than a minute later, with assists from Calen Addison and Bowen Byram. But Canada wasn't done.
Team Captain and former Soo Greyhound Barrett Hayton tied the game at 11:21, with help from Calen Addison and Lafreniere. Minutes before the team delivered their final blow.
Niagara Ice Dogs' Akil Thomas chased the puck to the net, stuffing it behind goaltender Amir Miftakhov at 56:02 in what would end up to be Canada's game-winning goal.
Team Russia pulled their goalie on three seperate occassions in an effort to battle back from their deficit, but couldn't beat Canadian goaltender Joel Hofer standing tall between the pipes.
Russia was issued six minutes in penalty time for cross-checking, intereference and a broken stick, while Canada received two minutes for hooking.
The game ended at a 4-3 final for Team Canada.
Team Russia outshot their counterparts 14-7 in the final frame and 38-30 overall.
