Canada made it a hat trick of gold medals at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, topping the U.S., 1-0, in the final, played at Zimny Stadion in Piestany, Slovakia.
The win is Canada’s third straight at the elite summer under-18 championship, and its sixth title in the last seven years.
“A great effort, a great feeling,” Canada coach George Burnett told Canadian Press. “When you put the time in that these guys have to prepare and go through this whole thing, and to come out on top, it’s a pretty special feeling.”
Canada center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored the game’s lone goal just 1:42 into the first period, and Tyson Teichmann made 22 saves to register the shutout. Canada had other chances to grow its lead, but U.S. goalie Steve Michalek stopped 23 of 24 shots, including denying Canada on all four of its power plays.