Norway stuns Canada for first World Championship medal
Noah Steen scores OT winner as Norway secures bronze, ending Canada's three-tournament medal drought.
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Canada has failed to medal at the 2026 IIHF World Championships after Norway pulled off a stunning upset in the bronze medal game Sunday.
The Norwegians, who had never won a medal at the World Championships, held a 2-0 lead late in the game before Canada fought back to force overtime. Noah Steen netted the game-winner to secure a 3-2 OT victory and Norway's first podium finish.
Canada's fourth-place finish marks the third straight tournament without a medal — a strange slump for a country that routinely contends for gold in international tournaments. Canada won silver at the 2026 Olympics and took home the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship last year.
The squad was missing some of its star power, with Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon unavailable. But the roster still featured Macklin Celebrini and Sidney Crosby, making the loss to a significantly less-powerful team a significant disappointment.
Canada had reached the bronze medal game after falling to Denmark in the quarterfinals last year. Both Denmark and Norway, considered far less experienced teams internationally, have now upset the Canadians in consecutive tournaments, suggesting a shift in global parity at the elite level.