World Cup in Riga – Canada is the ice hockey world champion for the 27th time. Head coach Gerard Gallant’s team won the final against Finland in Riga, playing 3–2 as the defending champions after extra time.
With this, the Canadians managed to get their revenge in the new edition of the 2019 World Cup final – which the Finns won 3-1 at the time. With the 27th World Cup title, the North Americans caught up with Russia, who had previously been the only record world champions.
Nick Paul scored the winning goal in the 67th minute. The preparatory work was done by Connor Brown, who also worked for the Ottawa Senators and assistant King for this World Cup. Brown was also instrumental in helping the Canadians equalize twice in regular time. He failed in this position before 1:1 (25th), after which Maxim Komtois was succeeded. Adam Heinrich’s 2–2 (53rd), who, like Komtois, had a majority, also had the stick in the game. Brown thus finished the World Cup with 14 assists and a total of 16 points, making him No. 1 in this tournament.
Mikel Ruhoma defeated the Finns 1–0 in the 9th minute, a second after a penalty against Canada. However, there was a flaw in the gate. Nick Paul sat out with a high stick, but Finn Marco Antilla pretended to be hit in the face, which was not the case. In this regard, Antilla would also have belonged to the penalty box.
The 2:1 (46th) was achieved by defender Petrie Lindbom, who has spent the past three seasons in Switzerland – two years for Lausanne and most recently for Biel. The 27-year-old, who plays for Jokerit Helsinki in the future, has been successful for the first time in this tournament.
The fact that the Canadians won the title in Riga is an incredible story. They started the tournament with three losses and also lost the last group game (2:3 NP) against Finland. As a result, they relied on a game between Germany and hosts Latvia (2–1) to be the winner after 60 minutes. He also liked the fact that Kazakhstan lost to Norway (1:3) on Monday. The Kazakhs finished the group stage like Canada on ten points, but lost in a straight duel (2:4).
In the knockout stage, the North Americans defeated Russia (2: 1 nV), the USA (4: 2) and now Finland. Canada won despite the fact that many NHL stars had skipped the trip to Latvia. One of them later joined the team: Andrew Mangiapen. The Calgary Flames striker was absent from the first three games and marks the resurgence of the Canadians. He provided seven goals and four assists for the title and was named the MVP of the tournament.
Canada and Finland met for the fifth time in a World Cup final in ice hockey, with North America winning the fourth time. Still, the Finns themselves don’t have much to blame. He did well in the final as well. After 60 minutes in the Latvian capital they did not lose a single game – they lost to Kazakhstan in a penalty shootout.
Wire:
Finland – Canada 2:3 (1:0, 0:1, 1:1, 0:1) nV
Riga, Arena. – SR Frano / Romasco (CZE / RUS), Lasarev / Shlyagin (RUS). – Goal: 9. Ruhoma (Kaski) 1-0. 25. Comtoise (brown, Walker / Exclusion Ohtama) 1: 1. 46. Lindbohm (Nausianen, Ruhoma) 2:1. 53. Heinrich (Comtois, Brown / Exclusion Ruhoma) 2: 2. 67. Paul (Brown) 2: 3. – Penalties: 3 times 2 minutes against Finland, 5 times 2 plus 2 times 10 minutes against Canada (Danforth, Walker).
Finland: Olkinuora; Koivisto, Sund; Kasky, mother; Pokka, Ohtama; Nausianen, Lindbohm; Antilla, Björninen, Menalanen; Ozamaki, Lundell, Swedish; Pakarinan, Contiola, Innala; Salinen, Ruhoma, Turunen.
Canada: Kumper; Walker, Ferraro; Stitcher, Power; Bernard-Docker, Beudin; Schneider; Brown, Henrik, Mangiapen; Bunting, Vilardi, Comtoise; Pirie, Danforth, Paul; Faudi, Anderson-Dolan, Hegel; Perfetti.
Comments: Post Shots: 23rd Comtoise, 25th Brown. – Heinrich’s 37th goal was denied offside after a successful coach challenge.
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