Guenther’s golden goal, Canada’s world junior victory send hockey world into frenzy

Canada's Dylan Guenther, right, scores the game winning goal past Czechia goaltender Tomas Suchanekin during overtime of the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game in Halifax on Thursday, January 5, 2023. (Darren Calabrese/CP)

For the second time in 138 days, Canada has scored a golden goal to win the World Junior Hockey Championship.

Following Kent Johnson’s overtime heroics during the gold-medal game of the postponed 2022 tournament in August, it was Dylan Guenther’s turn to provide Canada with the game-winning tally in an extra frame to retain the country’s crown at the under-20 competition on Thursday in Halifax.

The Edmonton native scored off a give-and-go with teammate Joshua Roy just over six minutes into the three-on-three overtime, lifting Canada to a 3-2 victory over Czechia.

The win gives Canada its 20th overall gold medal and its first back-to-back titles since 2009.

Hockey fans and media took to Twitter to congratulate team and player for the monumental accomplishment.

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