Kaapo Kakko scored the game-winning goal with 1:26 left in the third period to lift Finland to a 3-2 win over the United States to claim gold at the World Junior Championship on Saturday at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
Blackhawks defenseman Henri Jokiharju fired a shot from the blue line and Kakko — a top prospect for this year’s NHL draft — collected the rebound and buried it for Finland to win its first World Juniors gold since 2016.
Jokiharju had two goals and three assists in the tournament, while Blackhawks prospect Evan Barratt had one goal in his first World Juniors appearance for the United States.