Canada repeats in men’s hockey for first time in history

Canada’s men’s hockey team reaffirmed its dominance on the ice on Wednesday, 22 January with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Slovakia in the gold medal game of the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games.

This marks Canada’s sixth title since the tournament’s inception in 1962 and the country’s fourth since 2007, when the Games were also held in the capital of Piemonte region. The Canadians have a perfect streak of medalling in every edition since then.

Coming into the final with momentum after a commanding 10-2 semifinal victory over the United States, Canada faced a resolute Slovakian team that had edged out Ukraine for a spot in the championship match.

Sasha Mutala, a standout forward from the University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds, opened the scoring late in the first period. His goal came after relentless pressure from all four Canadian lines. “Getting one before the break was huge,” Mutala said postgame. “Every line was building momentum, so it was only a matter of time before someone scored. I’m just lucky it was me.”

The tally marked yet another milestone in Mutala’s impressive career, during which he has proudly represented Canada in three international tournaments.

“Winning with this group of guys is right up there among my top moments. Over these two weeks, we’ve become so close,” he shared. Despite his humble demeanor, Mutala’s résumé speaks volumes—he was a fifth-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2019 and scored two crucial goals in the gold-medal game of the 2018 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, a prestigious tournament known for showcasing future NHL talent.

Some of the best shots of the final

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Kai Edmonds, the team’s starting goaltender, is also a product of his extensive experience. A business management student at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), the keeper was the lone returning player from Canada’s 2023 FISU gold medal-winning team.

“This tournament was undoubtedly more competitive than Lake Placid,” Edmonds reflected. “Slovakia is a strong team, and when they were only down by one, we knew they’d come hard at us in the third period.” In 2023, Canada secured gold with a convincing 7-2 victory over host USA, but this year’s final was a much tighter contest.

The championship team’s success was built on a foundation of experience, camaraderie, and rigorous preparation. Many players brought national and international experience, including Mutala and Edmonds who reap the benefits of familiarity with high-pressure environments.

However, with the Slovakian net empty in a last-ditch effort to equalize late in the third, team captain Jack Duff solidified the victory, giving the Canadians a two-goal cushion with 52 seconds left on the clock.

“A lot of our team comes from top programs in Canada,” Edmonds explained. “Whether it’s competing nationally or playing in single-elimination tournaments, we’ve all been in these situations before. That experience set us up for success.”

Mutala and UBC teammates Jake Lee and Samuel Richard formed a solid core from their university team, while Edmonds reconnected with his former junior teammate, Charlie Callaghan. Not to mention, his close friend and teammate is wearing the leaf as well. “I was fortunate to have my TMU roommate, Connor Bowie, here with me, so the apartment’s been empty for the last two weeks.”

Legacy of excellence

The Canadians’ preparation began well before arriving in Torino. “The coaching staff set the standard from the jump,” Edmonds noted. “We started preparing in December, with meetings and practices, so by the time we got here, we were all aligned on our goals.”

Canada’s triumph continues its storied legacy in FISU Games hockey. The country’s consistent excellence is a testament to the strength of Canadian university hockey programs and the dedication of the players and coaching staff.

For Edmonds, Mutala, and the rest of Team Canada, this gold medal is not just a culmination of weeks of hard work but a reflection of years of dedication to the sport. As Mutala summed it up: “What a feeling. I couldn’t be more proud of this group. ”

The take place from 13-23 January. Watch all the competitions live on . Click on the link to find the full schedule.

Written by Mackenzie Barwell, FISU Young Reporter, Canada

The Young Reporters Programme exemplifies FISU’s commitment to more than sports competitions. At every FISU World University Games, a group of talented aspiring sports journalists are chosen to cover the competition.

We warmly thank FISU Official Partner Qiaodan Ltd. which provides remarkable uniforms to FISU Family and International Technical Officials since 2015. Qiaodan is a valuable partner for FISU as it continued to provide its support during the postponement of events due to the global pandemic, and recently extended the relationship with FISU up to and including 2025.