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Warriors’ Yager, Unger win gold with Canada at Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Canada rolls to 4-1 win over Sweden in championship final after downing Finland 4-1 in semifinal

After one of the most impressive tournament showings for a Hockey Canada crew in recent history, Moose Jaw Warriors forward Brayden Yager will be bringing home a gold medal from the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Yager and Team Canada capped off the summer world under-18 hockey tournament with a 4-1 victory over Sweden in the gold medal final on Saturday evening in Red Deer, giving the Saskatoon native his first-ever gold medal at a world championship event.

And he did it in style, too.

Yager finished the tournament with five goals and nine points -- including Canada’s final goal of the tournament in the gold medal game -- to finish second in the tournament in both categories.

The reigning CHL rookie of the year opened the event with a goal and two points in Canada’s 14-0 win over Switzerland before putting together his best game of the tournament against Slovakia, two goals and four points in a 9-1 victory.

That vaulted Yager into the tournament scoring lead, and he was right back at it one night later, putting up a goal and an assist as Canada downed Sweden 3-0 in their final round robin game.

Yager was held scoreless in the semifinal, which saw Canada hold 1-0 and 2-0 period leads, in a 4-1 win over Finland, but struck late in the championship game.

Winnipeg Ice forward Zach Benson got to the puck first on the end boards on a hard forecheck and sent a quick pass out front to Yager, who ripped a quick shot from the left side of the slot past Sweden’s Noah Erilden.

The goal gave Canada their 4-1 lead and came with 4:04 remaining in the contest.

Tanner Howe (WHL Regina), Ethan Gauthier (QMJHL Sherbrooke) and Calum Ritchie (OHL Oshawa) also scored, with Canada holding a 2-1 lead after the first period and 3-1 through two.

Scott Ratzlaff capped off a stellar showing through the event with 25 saves in the final, Canada had 36 shots on Erilden.

The Hlinka Gretzky Cup marked the second Team Canada assignment in which Yager has shone, after emerging as one of the tournament scoring leaders in the Capital City Challenge this past December.

Warriors goaltender Jackson Unger was also part of Team Canada, but didn’t see action during the tournament. 

The news wasn't all good for the Warriors, though, and this one was especially heartbreaking. Hockey Canada announced Sunday afternoon that Warriors captain Daemon Hunt would be unable to play in the 2022 World Junior Hockey Championship due to injury, with Ethan Del Mastro from the Mississauga Steelheads taking his place on defence.

Canada’s first game goes at 4 p.m. on Aug. 10 from Roger’s Place in Edmonton, with all the action broadcast on TSN.

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