Kelowna Rocket Tij Iginla hoisting the trophy.
Image Credit: HHOF IMAGES
May 06, 2024 - 1:00 PM
Canada took home the gold at the International Ice Hockey Federation U18 World Championships on Sunday with help from Kelowna Rocket Tij Iginla.
Iginla, son of hall-of-famer Jarome Iginla, scored a goal and two assists against the United States during the 6-4 win for Canada in Espoo, Finland.
A total of nine WHLers were on the ice for Canada. Medicine Hat Tigers’ rookie of the year nominee Gavin McKenna scored a hat trick to extend his record as the top scoring Canadian at a single U18 World Championship tournament, according to a press release from the Kelowna Rockets.
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"It's the best feeling ever," McKenna said on the broadcast post-game. "Obviously, you can't do it by yourself. I had an unbelievable line and an unbelievable team. Couldn't have done it without them. So many guys in this tournament stepped up when we needed it and it all paid off in the end."
It was a tense game with the Americans taking a 3-1 lead until McKenna and Iginla tied it up during a power play. Iginla put Canada in the lead less than a minute after assisting McKenna’s two goals that tied it up.
"There was never a doubt in this room," McKenna said. "The group of guys we have, we've built unbelievable friendships that we'll have for a lifetime. It's an amazing group and a hell of a win by us. All tournament we practiced our power play and it came up big and that was key to our win."
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