Canada ends gold drought in World Junior Hockey Championship

The Canadians built up a four-goal lead and held on from there against Russia.

By NEWS SERVICES

January 6, 2015 at 7:02AM
CORRECTS NAME OF PHOTOGRAPHER IN CAPTION - Canada's Anthony Duclair celebrates his first-period goal against Russia during the title game at the hockey World Junior Championship in Toronto on Monday, Jan. 5, 2015. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)
Canada’s Anthony Duclair celebrated his first-period goal against Russia — coming on his team’s first shot of the game, only 23 seconds in Monday night. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

TORONTO – Arizona Coyotes prospect Max Domi helped lead Canada to its record 16th World Junior Hockey title and first since 2009, scoring a goal and adding two assists in a 5-4 victory over Russia on Monday night.

"That was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and we took advantage of it," Domi said about winning at home.

Anthony Duclair, Nick Paul, Connor McDavid and Sam Reinhart also scored to stake Canada to a 5-1 lead. Dmitri Yudin, Ivan Barbashev, Sergey Tolchinsky and Nikolai Goldobin scored for Russia.

Zach Fucale made 26 saves for Canada.

Duclair scored 23 seconds into the game and Paul made it 2-0 at 2:32, chasing Russian goalie Igor Shestyorkin. Yudin scored for Russia midway through the first.

McDavid, the Erie Otters star expected to the top pick in this year's NHL draft, made it 3-1 early in the second, and Domi and Reinhart increased the lead to 5-1.

Russia countered with three goals — two on power plays — in a 3:16 span.

"We were able to brush it off," McDavid said. "We're world junior champions. It's joy. Right now, this is just absolute joy."

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was in the announced crowd of 19,014 at Air Canada Centre.

"Congratulations to Team Canada on their outstanding performance tonight. You've made your country extremely proud," Harper tweeted after the victory.

Russia won the last of its 13 titles — nine as the Soviet Union — in 2011.

"It was 5-4," Goldobin said. "Just one goal. And we had the whole third period to score. We started pretty badly. We allowed two goals, weak goals. But we have a great team."

Slovakia 4, Sweden 2: Pavol Skalicky broke a tie on a power play early in the third period and Slovakia finished in third place.

Slovakia won its second medal after also finishing third in 1999 in Winnipeg.

Slovakia started the third period on a 5-minute power play after Julius Bergman received a major penalty for interference and a game misconduct for felling Patrik Koys at the end of the second.

David Soltes, Mislav Rosandic and Koys — into an empty net in the final minute — also scored for Slovakia. Montreal prospect Martin Reway had three assists, and Denis Godla made 26 saves.

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