ESPOO, FINLAND — Canada defeated the United States 6-4 at the 2024 IIHF Men’s Under-18 World Championship. The game was a tale of two halves. The United States controlled the first two periods of the match. They outshot Canada by nearly twenty shots on goal and led 3-2 in two periods.
Then, midway through the third period, Canadian winger Ryder Ritchie and an American player fought along the boards and American winger Trevor Connelly came in and delivered a hard hit on Ritchie. The hit resulted in a five-minute major penalty and a misconduct for illegal head checking. Canada then scored three goals on the ensuing power play and regained control of the game.
“This team showed incredible resilience and courage,” said Canada coach Gardiner MacDougall. “If you watch the game, maybe even in parts in the first but certainly in the second, you think, ‘There’s no hope, there’s no hope for this team.’ We hung out.”
The major penalty imposed on Connelly comes as NHL teams are scrutinizing him intensely.
Gavin McKenna, Canada’s star forward eligible for the 2026 draft, recorded a hat trick and four points, leading the team to victory.
“Every game we play, he impresses me more,” said Canadian captain Porter Martone. “He’s incredible and I had the honor of playing with him.”
The tournament MVP, voted for by the media, was American forward James Hagens, who set the tournament points record. He was deemed useless in the gold medal game.
Media All-Star Team
L: Carter George (2024)
Re: Cole Hutson (2024)
D: Luka Radivojevic (2025)
F:James Hagens (2025)
W: Gavin McKenna (2026)
F: Porter Martone (2025)
MVP: James Hagens (2025)
GO FURTHER
Scott Wheeler’s strengths and disappointments at the U18 World Cup
Management Award
L: Carter George (2024)
Re: Cole Hutson (2024)
F:James Hagens (2025)
Required reading
(Photo: Jussi Nukari/Lehtikuva via AP)