Ice Hockey Gold for Canada!

 Canada celebrates after winning gold at the 2013 Winter Universiade in men’s hockey with a 6-2 win over Kazakhstan

CANAZEI – Canada came to Trentino with only one goal in my mind; to win gold. They achieved it.

Canada claimed gold in the men’s ice hockey final at the 2013 Winter Universiade after a 6-2 win over Kazakhstan.

“It feels incredible,” forward Lucas Bloodoff said. “This is what we came here for and we achieved it.”

After falling behind after 14 seconds thanks to an Alexandr Shin goal, Canada stormed back with three first period goals through Mike Cazzola, Josh Day and Matthew Maione.

Canada won gold at the 2013 Winter Universiade in men’s hockey after a 6-2 win over Kazakhstan

The second period saw them score twice more thanks to Chris Culligan and Neil MacNeil to take a 5-1 lead into the third period.

A rough, fight filled third period saw both teams find the back of the net once each, as Culligan, then Shin, bagged their second goals of the night. Kazakhstan finished the game with 70 penalty minutes, while Canada had only eight in a third period that was full of raw emotion.

The two sides had met in the final match of the group stage in which Kazakhstan picked up a 4-2 win. However, the tables were turned today.

Bloodoff in action

“I think we went into that first game too complacent,” Bloodoff said. “It was definitely a wake-up call but we learned from it and got the job done today.”

The Canadian team, made up of all-stars from the Atlantic University Sport Conference, came into the tournament with high hopes. With gold now around their neck, Bloodoff says it’s a moment he, nor his teammates, will ever forget.

“It is truly amazing to win gold,” Bloodoff said. “This is something we will all forever share together.”

It’ s a double hockey victory for Canada as the women’s team also pocketed the gold medal.

Matt Tidcombe, FISU Young Reporter