Norway stuns – Noah Steen scored 3:32 into overtime as Norway beat Canada 3-2 in the bronze medal game Sunday in Zurich, capturing its first ice hockey world championship medal after decades without one.
ZURICH — The scoreboard flipped in the space of a breath. Norway had already watched Canada come back, then pull its netminder, then still find a way to level the game with eight seconds left.
When Noah Steen finally delivered the winner, it landed 3:32 into overtime, and Norway’s celebration didn’t wait for the final horn. The team stunned Canada 3-2 in the bronze medal game on Sunday to capture its first ice hockey world championship medal.
Steen’s goal ended a long search. Norway’s previous best at the worlds was a fourth-place finish in 1951.
Canada’s comeback carried the pressure right to the edge. It began in the final period when Canada, down 2-0, pulled netminder Jet Greaves. Robert Thomas scored from the slot with 1:16 remaining to cut the deficit.
Then the last seconds turned frantic. With eight seconds to go, captain Macklin Celebrini and Ryan O’Reilly set up Thomas for his second goal to tie it at 2-2, forcing overtime.
Norway had struck first and looked in control for stretches. Emilio Pettersen gave Norway a 1-0 lead in the opening period, and Stian Solberg added another in the second with a deflected shot. Goaltender Henrik Haukeland stopped 44 shots.
Greaves made 21 saves for Canada.
Canada’s road to the bronze game was already uneven. The Canadians had to settle for it after a 4-2 upset defeat to Finland in the semifinals on Saturday.
For Canada, the worlds have felt like disappointment more than vindication. The team has come up short at the worlds since it won its last and record 28th title in 2023. It finished fourth in 2024 and was stunned 2-1 by Denmark in the quarterfinals last year.
This year brought the kind of lineup that usually changes expectations: Celebrini. a teenage sensation. captained the team. alongside NHL great Sidney Crosby and several established NHL stars. including O’Reilly. John Tavares and Mark Scheifele. Canada even won all of its group games. including a 6-5 victory over Norway in overtime. and eliminated defending champion U.S. in the quarterfinals.
But Finland—led by Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov—proved too good in the semis, and Canada’s struggles kept following it right onto Sunday’s ice.
Switzerland and Finland meet in the final later Sunday.
Norway Canada bronze medal game overtime Noah Steen Jet Greaves Macklin Celebrini Ryan O'Reilly Robert Thomas Henrik Haukeland Emilio Pettersen Stian Solberg Zurich ice hockey world championships