In the 2024 IIHF Men’s World Championship, Canada emerged victorious over the USA with a score of 6-4. The game was a tale of two halves, with the U.S. dominating the first two periods. They held a lead of 3-2 and outshot Canada by nearly twenty shots. However, midway through the third period, a pivotal moment occurred when a hard hit by USA winger Trevor Connelly on Canadian winger Ryder Ritchie resulted in a major penalty and game misconduct for illegal checking to the head.
The United States had been leading Canada 3-2 after two periods, but in the third period, a major penalty was issued to Trevor Connelly for illegal checking to the head of Ryder Ritchie. This pivotal moment shifted momentum in favor of Canada, who scored three goals during the ensuing power play to take a 5-3 lead. The US continued to fight back but ultimately fell short of victory with a final score of 6-4 in favor of Canada.
Canada’s coach Gardiner MacDougall praised his team’s resiliency and grit in the face of adversity. Despite initially seeming to be outplayed, the team hung in and fought back to secure the victory. Gavin McKenna, a standout forward eligible for the 2026 draft, recorded a hat trick and four points in the game, leading Canada to success.
Team captain Porter Martone commended McKenna’s incredible performance and expressed admiration for his talent.
The MVP of the tournament was USA forward James Hagens, who set a record for points in a single tournament. However, he was held off the scoresheet in the gold medal game.
The Media All-Star Team included players like Carter George, Cole Hutson, and Luka Radivojevic in various positions.
Overall, this tournament showcased
