<p>They did it. Team Canada captured the IIHF U20 gold medal.</p>
<p>After losing in the finals to the United States just one year ago, Canada pushed past Sweden to claim the gold medal at the 2018 World Junior Hockey Championship.  The hero this year was Tyler Steenbergen who tallied his only goal of the tournament in the final minutes of the gold medal matchup.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s times like these where the hockey just speaks for himself.  The Canadians were deadlocked with Sweden through most of the game but pulled away before it was too late.</p>
<p>The player&#8217;s reactions after the final buzzer are what truly engrains these moments into the hearts of Canadians &#8211; there&#8217;s something about this tournament that is so special.  The crowd at the Key Bank Centre tonight was packed with red and white sweaters, as almost 16 000 Canadian fans came to cheer on their country in the finals.</p>
<p>To avoid any more emotional statements, let us relive the golden game once more.</p>
<p></p>
<h2>1st Period</h2>
<p>The first period was packed with chances on both sides, but neither team would gain the edge until later in the second. Carter Hart stood on his head for Team Canada the entire tournament, and without him today, Canada would not have won this game.  Period.</p>
<p>Hart finished the tournament with a 5-0-1 record, a 1.81 GAA and a 0.930 save percentage. He was one of the main reasons that Canada made it to the gold medal game.</p>
<p>Oh, and Sweden did this?</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">That&#39;s a bold strategy Cotton <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldJuniors?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldJuniors</a> <a href="https://t.co/jmM8xHvMA8">pic.twitter.com/jmM8xHvMA8</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Flintor (@TheFlintor) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheFlintor/status/949456752587653123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h2><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif">2nd Period</span></h2>
<p>Team Captain Dillon Dube would strike first for Canada in the second period, scoring a goal off this amazing shot to put the Canadians up 1-0:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="es" dir="ltr">Dillon Dubé breaks in and rips one. </p>
<p>1-0 Canada ?? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldJuniors?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldJuniors</a> <a href="https://t.co/1FuKYUNTAK">pic.twitter.com/1FuKYUNTAK</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Flintor (@TheFlintor) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheFlintor/status/949461219211059201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The Swedish shorthanded dominance continued again today, as Tim Soderlund would tally Sweden&#8217;s only goal of the game on Canada&#8217;s second powerplay of the evening:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Another shorthanded goal for Sweden, this time it’s Tim Soderlund. 1-1 <a href="https://t.co/NPkziLnJiX">pic.twitter.com/NPkziLnJiX</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteBlackburn/status/949465841317416960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Canada and Sweden found themselves deadlocked yet again at the end of the second, heading into the intermission tied at 1.</p>
<h2>3rd Period</h2>
<p>The third period of this game may have one been one of the best periods of hockey I&#8217;ve seen in a while.  And yes, I&#8217;m only saying that because Canada won.</p>
<p>Both teams had great chances for the duration of the period, but it was Tyler Steenbergen who scored the goal to regain the lead for Canada with 1:40 left to play in the game.  Here&#8217;s the goal that sent a large part of the country&#8217;s population into cardiac arrest:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tyler Steenbergen with a beautiful redirection to put Canada up front with less than 2 minutes left. Wow. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldJuniors?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldJuniors</a> <a href="https://t.co/aAx1yn8SGv">pic.twitter.com/aAx1yn8SGv</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Flintor (@TheFlintor) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheFlintor/status/949480567640276993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">THE GOLDEN GOAL ?? <a href="https://t.co/IPpBgXwViY">pic.twitter.com/IPpBgXwViY</a></p>
<p>&mdash; WJC 2018 in Buffalo (@WJCinBUF) <a href="https://twitter.com/WJCinBUF/status/949482350290833408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Alex Formenton would score the empty net goal to seal the deal for Canada with just over a minute to play in the third.</p>
<p>That did it for the Canadians who capture the WJC gold medal for the first time since 2015.</p>
<p>Way to go, boys!</p>
<h2>#Content</h2>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="und" dir="ltr">???? <a href="https://t.co/OQ42HZxJj8">pic.twitter.com/OQ42HZxJj8</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Richard Lee-Sam (@RLeesam) <a href="https://twitter.com/RLeesam/status/949481040875147264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Team Canada wins the 2018 World Junior Championships! ?? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldJuniors?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldJuniors</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#gold</a> <a href="https://t.co/XxvKkrSJyl">pic.twitter.com/XxvKkrSJyl</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Flintor (@TheFlintor) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheFlintor/status/949481969326305280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sign in the crowd: Ikea is overrated too! But the meatballs are good.</p>
<p>&mdash; Sunaya Sapurji (@sunayas) <a href="https://twitter.com/sunayas/status/949481132726325248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/6kiHHl46bJ">pic.twitter.com/6kiHHl46bJ</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Flintor (@TheFlintor) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheFlintor/status/949482095218323461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">?? mood = GOLD!<br />?mood = Poor Timoth</p>
<p>&mdash; Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/949482032131923968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The moment <a href="https://t.co/qVZwly0rjb">pic.twitter.com/qVZwly0rjb</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Mark Masters (@markhmasters) <a href="https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/949485281564119042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dahlin literally started chopping down the arena after Canada scored the empty netter. <a href="https://t.co/gY163AwGDi">pic.twitter.com/gY163AwGDi</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Flintor (@TheFlintor) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheFlintor/status/949489003136364544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A Swedish player threw his silver medal over the glass and this guy now has a souvenir <a href="https://t.co/HPjM5mHrev">pic.twitter.com/HPjM5mHrev</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteBlackburn/status/949483952905052160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">reddit user u/JiggediJao just uploaded a different angle and it&#39;s hilarious. <a href="https://t.co/rSSNsg40sC">pic.twitter.com/rSSNsg40sC</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Flintor (@TheFlintor) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheFlintor/status/949488436582338560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>

They did it. Team Canada captured the IIHF U20 gold medal.

After losing in the finals to the United States just one year ago, Canada pushed past Sweden to claim the gold medal at the 2018 World Junior Hockey Championship.  The hero this year was Tyler Steenbergen who tallied his only goal of the tournament in the final minutes of the gold medal matchup.

It's times like these where the hockey just speaks for himself.  The Canadians were deadlocked with Sweden through most of the game but pulled away before it was too late.

The player's reactions after the final buzzer are what truly engrains these moments into the hearts of Canadians - there's something about this tournament that is so special.  The crowd at the Key Bank Centre tonight was packed with red and white sweaters, as almost 16 000 Canadian fans came to cheer on their country in the finals.

To avoid any more emotional statements, let us relive the golden game once more.


<h2>1st Period</h2>
The first period was packed with chances on both sides, but neither team would gain the edge until later in the second. Carter Hart stood on his head for Team Canada the entire tournament, and without him today, Canada would not have won this game.  Period.

Hart finished the tournament with a 5-0-1 record, a 1.81 GAA and a 0.930 save percentage. He was one of the main reasons that Canada made it to the gold medal game.

Oh, and Sweden did this?

https://twitter.com/TheFlintor/status/949456752587653123
<h2><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif">2nd Period</span></h2>
Team Captain Dillon Dube would strike first for Canada in the second period, scoring a goal off this amazing shot to put the Canadians up 1-0:

https://twitter.com/TheFlintor/status/949461219211059201

The Swedish shorthanded dominance continued again today, as Tim Soderlund would tally Sweden's only goal of the game on Canada's second powerplay of the evening:

https://twitter.com/PeteBlackburn/status/949465841317416960

Canada and Sweden found themselves deadlocked yet again at the end of the second, heading into the intermission tied at 1.
<h2>3rd Period</h2>
The third period of this game may have one been one of the best periods of hockey I've seen in a while.  And yes, I'm only saying that because Canada won.

Both teams had great chances for the duration of the period, but it was Tyler Steenbergen who scored the goal to regain the lead for Canada with 1:40 left to play in the game.  Here's the goal that sent a large part of the country's population into cardiac arrest:

https://twitter.com/TheFlintor/status/949480567640276993

https://twitter.com/WJCinBUF/status/949482350290833408

Alex Formenton would score the empty net goal to seal the deal for Canada with just over a minute to play in the third.

That did it for the Canadians who capture the WJC gold medal for the first time since 2015.

Way to go, boys!
<h2>#Content</h2>
https://twitter.com/RLeesam/status/949481040875147264

https://twitter.com/TheFlintor/status/949481969326305280

https://twitter.com/sunayas/status/949481132726325248

https://twitter.com/TheFlintor/status/949482095218323461

https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/949482032131923968

https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/949485281564119042

https://twitter.com/TheFlintor/status/949489003136364544

https://twitter.com/PeteBlackburn/status/949483952905052160

https://twitter.com/TheFlintor/status/949488436582338560

Canada Postgame: GOLDEN BOYS

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