Canada defeats Finland to secure bronze at world junior hockey championship
Canada claimed the bronze medal at the world junior hockey championship with a 6–3 victory over Finland on Monday, while Sweden captured the gold medal in the tournament final.
The win allowed Canada to finish on the podium after falling short of its gold-medal expectations earlier in the competition.
Parekh sets Canadian defenceman scoring record
Zayne Parekh delivered a strong performance in the bronze-medal game, recording a goal and an assist. As a result, the 19-year-old set a new world junior record for points by a Canadian defenceman, finishing the tournament with 13 points.
The Calgary Flames prospect surpassed the previous mark of 12 points, which Bryan McCabe set in 1995 and Alex Pietrangelo matched in 2008.
Despite the milestone, Parekh said individual records mattered little to him. He stressed that Canada’s main objective was to win gold, not to collect personal achievements.
Focus remains on team success
When asked about his record-breaking performance, Parekh downplayed the accomplishment and expressed disappointment with the team’s overall result. According to him, anything short of a championship falls below expectations for Team Canada.
Nevertheless, his offensive production played a key role in securing the bronze medal and closing the tournament on a positive note.
Parekh addresses media comments and issues apology
Later in the tournament, Parekh revisited remarks he made on New Year’s Day regarding his approach to media interviews. He explained that he values showing personality and believes authenticity helps grow the game.
However, Parekh acknowledged that some of his earlier comments were misunderstood or poorly phrased. He issued a public apology to the Calgary Flames organization and his teammates.
The Nobleton, Ont., native said he regretted the situation and accepted responsibility, adding that such issues should not happen at the professional level.
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