Norway celebrates its first bronze medal in World Championship history. © ANSA / SALVATORE DI NOLFI

World Championship bronze: Norway causes a sensation

Norway has achieved a sensation and won its first-ever medal at an Ice Hockey World Championship.

31 May 2026

From: apa/sn

The Scandinavians won the dramatic bronze medal game against former gold medal favorites Canada 3-2 in overtime (1-0, 1-0, 0-2, 1-0) in Zurich on Sunday, securing the bronze medal. Record world champions Canada, on the other hand, went home empty-handed for the third consecutive time.

The surprise team, who had already sensationally finished second behind Canada in the group stage, squandered a 2-0 lead in the final 76 seconds of regulation time, but Noah Steen scored the decisive goal in overtime after three and a half minutes, netting his seventh of the tournament. The Norwegians thus crowned an outstanding World Championship, in which they defeated the Czech Republic and their powerful neighbors Sweden, with this unexpected medal.

Thomas's late brace wasn't enough

The underdog took the lead in the 8th minute when Emilio Pettersen capitalized on a goaltending error by Jet Greaves. In the second period, Stian Solberg extended the lead to 2-0 with a deflected shot (33rd minute). Then the Canadians rallied. With an extra attacker on the ice, Robert Thomas scored twice – tying the game with seven seconds remaining. But it wasn't enough for the win.

Porter Martone, Sidney Crosby, and Mark Scheifele were defeated despite being favorites. © ANSA / ANDREAS BECKER

The Norwegians' victory, despite being outmatched in terms of skill, was somewhat fortunate, but ultimately not undeserved, as they wanted the win more than the Canadians with their superstars Sidney Crosby and Macklin Celebrini. Goaltender Henrik Haukeland (46 saves) also delivered another outstanding performance. Canada, who lost their semifinal against Finland 2-4 on Saturday night, traditionally attaches little importance to a bronze medal. In the birthplace of ice hockey, the motto is: gold or nothing. The Canadians last won a bronze medal game in 1995; since then, they have now lost the bronze medal game six times.