Canada wins under-18 gold
Jordan Eberle scored two of Canada’s five first period goals that powered them to an 8-0 win over Russia in the gold medal game at the World Under-18 Championships in Kazan, Russia on Wednesday.
Eberle, who plays in the Western Hockey League for the Regina Pats, was one of 21 Canadian Hockey League stars that suited up for Team Canada.
It was Canada’s second win in this tournament, which includes CHL players are that are no longer in their respective league playoffs.
Nicolas Deschamps of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens opened the scoring against Russia with a short-handed effort 4:32 into the game. Corey Trivino (Stouffville Tier II) and Brayden Schenn of the Brandon Wheat Kings also scored in the first period. Tyler Cuma of the Ottawa 67’s and Brandon McMillan of the Kelowna Rockets scored in the second period and Taylor Hall of the Windsor Spitfires rounded out the scoring in the third.
Canadian captain Cody Hodgson of the Brampton Battalion had three assists in the win and finished as the tournament’s top scorer with two goals and 10 assists for 12 points in seven games. He tied the Canadian record set by Pierre-Marc Bouchard for most points in the tournament.
Jake Allen of the St. John’s Fog Devils made 29 saves for the shutout and was named Canada’s player of the tournament after allowing just 10 goals in seven tournament games.
The Canadians were forced to play in a semi-final game after their 4-2 loss to Russia in the preliminary round of the tournament. They finished with a 6-1 record.
Canada has competed in the tournament since 2002. They won the gold medal in 2003 and won the silver in 2005. They finished fourth in the tournament last year in Finland.
