Eight WHL Players Win Gold with Canada at 2018 World Junior Championship

January 8, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release

Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League is proud to recognize eight players returning from the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship with gold as members of Team Canada, following a 3-1 victory over Sweden Friday evening at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

Tyler Steenbergen (Swift Current Broncos / Arizona Coyotes) scored the tournament-winning goal for Canada with 1:40 to go in the third period, captain Dillon Dube (Kelowna Rockets / Calgary Flames) opened the scoring for Canada and Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips / Philadelphia Flyers) earned player of the game honours after making 35 saves in the game.

Dube opened the scoring 1:49 into the second period. After joining the rush on a two-on-two drive, Dube took the pass in the slot area and skated in on Sweden's net with a defender draped around him. Dube created enough room in the limited space, sniping the puck top glove side on Swedish goaltender Filip Gustavsson for the game's first goal.

Sweden would respond with a short-handed goal later in the period to even up the game after 40 minutes, keeping fans on the edge of their seats in another classic World Junior final.

Both teams fed off each other in the tight battle of Group Winners from the round-robin portion of the tournament, though it was Canada who'd find a way to get ahead late in the third. A point shot sent intentionally wide was sent Steenbergen's way and the Broncos' leading goal scorer this season made no mistake on tipping the shot past Gustavsson, lifting Canada to the top of the podium for a record 17th time. Canada would add an empty-net goal late in the game.

Canada's goaltending situation was secure with Hart between the pipes as he joined a pair of other goaltenders for the most wins by a Canadian netminder at the tournament. He made 16 saves in the first, eight in the second and 11 more in the third to hold Sweden scoreless in the final period of the tournament.

WHL players returning home with gold include goaltender Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips / Sherwood Park, Alta.), defencemen Jake Bean (Calgary Hitmen / Calgary, Alta.), Kale Clague (Brandon Wheat Kings / Lloydminster, Alta.), Cal Foote (Kelowna Rockets / Kelowna, B.C.) and forwards Dillon Dube (Kelowna Rockets / Cochrane, Alta.), Brett Howden (Moose Jaw Warriors / Oakbank, Man.), Sam Steel (Regina Pats / Sherwood Park, Alta.) and Tyler Steenbergen (Swift Current Broncos / Sylvan Lake, Alta.).

WHL staff members returning home with gold include assistant coach Tim Hunter (Moose Jaw Warriors / Calgary, Alta.), athletic therapist Brian Cheeseman (Edmonton Oil Kings / Mount Pearl, Nfld.) and video coach Tim O'Donovan (Kamloops Blazers / Regina, Sask.).

Canada won Group A during preliminary action, skating to a record of 3-0-0-1, before defeating Switzerland in quarter-final play and the Czech Republic in semifinal competition.

WHL forwards enjoyed great individual success throughout the tournament, led by Sam Steel (4G-5A), Brett Howden (3G-4A), captain Dillon Dube (3G-2A) and Tyler Steenbergen (1G-1A), while defencemen Jake Bean (0G-3A), Cal Foote (0G-3A) and Kale Clague (0G-2A) also contributed from the blueline. Goaltender Carter Hart carried the bulk of the workload throughout the tournament, starting all games but one, registering a record of 5-0-0-1 with a 1.81 goals-against average, .930 save percentage and one shutout.

Each of Hart, Bean, Clague and Dube previously collected silver as members of Team Canada at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship in Montreal and Toronto.

Also earning medals while representing the WHL at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship are Kieffer Bellows (Portland Winterhawks / Edina, Minn.) and Kailer Yamamoto (Spokane Chiefs / Spokane, Wash.), as Team USA defeated the Czech Republic by a 9-3 margin in the bronze medal game Friday afternoon.

Eight WHL Players Win Gold with Canada at 2018 World Junior Championship

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