It is only three years since Norway had to close down its national team’s investment in ice hockey due to finances and now the unbelievable has actually happened. Norway’s first World Championship medal is a reality.

Despite big games from Norway throughout the championship, most people expected that Canada, which is the world’s best ice hockey nation, would be a few numbers too big. – But no, Norway did not let Canada play “its own game” at all in what was a strong tactical victory.

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It was 3-2 to Norway over Canada, the world’s largest hockey nation, in the bronze final of the World Cup in Switzerland. – Later tonight in the World Cup final, the host nation Switzerland and Finland will meet. Drop at 20.20.

As Olympiatoppen wrote on social media:

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BRONZE IN ICE HOCKEY! 🔥 Norway’s first World Cup medal in a World Hockey Championship is a fact after our ice hockey warriors win 3-2 against Canada – one of the world’s best ice hockey teams. This is no fluke. During this championship, Norway has become a hockey nation everyone respects! 🙌 Simply an insane achievement that is hard to put into words! 🥲

Norway’s huge success: World Cup bronze after victory against Canada

The first Norwegian World Championship medal is in the box. The Norwegians took revenge against a star-studded Canada and secured the bronze in Zurich.

Noah Steen scored in extra time after a big drama.

Before this year’s championships, the Norwegians’ best World Cup finish was a fourth place from 1951.

They had never played a single medal match.

This was awesome! It was very deserved, they were better than Canada the whole game, there is no doubt about that again. It’s sports history, it’s spectacular,” says Anders Myrvold, Norwegian hockey legend to VG.

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But now they are bronze medalists after a 3-2 win against Canada – with names like Sidney Crosby, Macklin Celebrini, John Tavares and Ryan O’Reilly on the team.

Got up in extension after the cold shower

Djurgården player Mathias Emilio Pettersen made it 1-0 in the middle of the first period, when he stole the puck from a clattering Canadian goalie and put it into an open goal.

A lead that former Färjestad defenseman Stian Solberg doubled when he sent off a shot by chance in the second period.

Canada managed to catch up and got an equalizer to make it 2-2 with only eight seconds left in the third period – but former Örebro player Noah Steen finally settled in overtime with his 3-2 goal.

Another Canadian downturn

For Canada, fourth place is another stain on the record.

Lønnebladslandet was eliminated in the quarter-finals against Denmark last year and now has three straight World Championships without a medal. In addition, they lost the Olympic final to the United States in February, and their JWC team has three straight tournaments without a final.

Canada came into the tournament as favourites, but were pressured by Norway already in the group stage – then they managed to win after overtime.

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Stian Solberg and Mathias Emilio Pettersen scored Norway’s goals in regulation time. Before it unraveled just before the end when Robert Thomas scored with 76 and 7 seconds left.

But Norway got up in overtime and settled with World Cup top scorer Noah Steen