Finland wins ice hockey world title on OT goal

Konsta Helenius, a 20-year-old Buffalo Sabres center, scored 10:42 into overtime to deliver Finland its first world title since 2022.reuters
The gold medal game against host Switzerland was scoreless through regulation; Finland reached the final by upsetting Canada 4-2 in the semifinals.olympics
Earlier Sunday, Norway stunned Canada 3-2 in overtime for its first-ever world championship medal, leaving Canada without a medal for a third straight year.apnews

Finland Wins 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship With Overtime Goal in Zurich

Konsta Helenius scored 10:42 into overtime on Sunday to give Finland a 1-0 victory over host nation Switzerland in the gold medal game of the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Zurich, delivering Finland its first world title since 2022.reuters

A Young Star’s Defining Moment

Helenius, 20, a center for the Buffalo Sabres, delivered the decisive strike to break a scoreless deadlock that had lasted through regulation. The goal capped a tournament in which he recorded one goal and four points across nine games for the Sabres this NHL season after earning a promotion to the roster.espn

Finland reached the final after upsetting Canada 4-2 in the semifinals on Saturday, overcoming a 2-1 deficit with a dominant second period. The victory marked Finland’s return to the championship game for the first time since their 2022 title run.olympics

Switzerland, playing on home ice, had advanced to the final after a commanding 6-0 semifinal win over Norway.bleacherreport

Norway Makes History in Bronze Medal Game

Earlier Sunday, Norway delivered one of the biggest upsets in international hockey history, stunning Canada 3-2 in overtime to claim its first-ever medal at the ice hockey world championship. Noah Steen scored the winner 3:32 into overtime.apnews

Canada rallied late in the contest but could not finish off their comeback, according to NHL.com. The loss means Canada leaves the World Championship without a medal for the third consecutive year, following a quarterfinal exit to Denmark in 2025.nhl

Canada’s Continued Struggles

Despite a roster that included Sidney Crosby and Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, Canada could not overcome what the IIHF described as an “out-of-sync” performance against the Norwegians. The Canadians had entered the bronze medal game after their semifinal defeat to Finland, in which they were outplayed despite outshooting their opponents 15-2 in the final period.iihf

Norway’s historic bronze stands as an exclamation point on a tournament that rewarded youth and tenacity over pedigree.