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| TSN |
Top 2026 NHL Draft prospect Gavin McKenna of the Medicine Hat Tigers netted a hat trick while Owen Sound Attack goaltender Carter George was phenomenal, leading Canada to a thrilling 6-4 win over the United States in Sunday's gold medal game.
The Americans were the better team through two periods (shots were 31-9) and led Canada 3-2 in the third. Midway through the final frame, a five-minute major was given to Trevor Connelly – an already controversial prospect – for a check to the head. The penalty changed everything, allowing Canada to score three times and take control of the game. Shots in the third ended 14-4 in favour of Canada.
UNB's Gardiner MacDougall, who led the Saint John Sea Dogs to the 2022 Memorial Cup championship, was Canada's head coach. Current Sea Dogs head coach Travis Crickard, who was an assistant under MacDougall at the Memorial Cup, was one of Canada's assistants for this tournament.
Gardiner MacDougall with 56 straight wins in all competitions with Team Canada and UNB now.
— Ben Steiner (@BenSteiner00) May 5, 2024
Since May 2021:
3 AUS titles
1 FISU Gold
2 U Cups
2022 Memorial Cup
2024 U18 World Champs gold
Canada wins a crazy gold medal game v USA today for an undefeated U18 Worlds.
QMJHL players on Team Canada included Maxime Masse (Chicoutimi), Caleb Desnoyers (Moncton) and Spencer Gill (Rimouski).
The tournament will be remembered for the showdown between American forward James Hagens, the top prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft, and McKenna. Hagens, the tournament MVP and a Boston College commit, finished with nine goals and 13 assists. McKenna, who won't turn 17 until late December, finished with 10 goals and 10 assists.
Despite his age, McKenna has a strong shot at making Canada's world junior team. And you have to wonder... could MacDougall also be part of the world junior team? We'll see.
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