BY OSABUOHIEN VIVIAN-ROSE
Finland captured the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship title after Konsta Helenius scored the decisive goal in overtime to secure a 1-0 victory over Switzerland in Sunday’s final.
The dramatic winner came 10:42 into sudden-death overtime, ending a tightly contested battle and handing Finland its fifth world championship crown. For Switzerland, the defeat marked another heartbreaking near miss, extending their search for a first-ever world title after losing a third consecutive final.
Both teams battled through a tense, defensive contest in regulation time. Finland had an early goal ruled out for high-sticking and successfully survived a difficult penalty-kill situation at the start of the second period despite intense pressure from the home crowd.
Neither side could find a breakthrough during regulation, forcing the match into a thrilling three-on-three overtime period. After Finland’s Jesse Puljujarvi struck the post early in the extra session, the game swung rapidly from end to end before Helenius produced the championship-winning moment.
The 20-year-old forward collected the puck near the left corner, cut across the ice, and fired a powerful shot beyond the Swiss goalkeeper. He immediately tossed aside his gloves and helmet as teammates rushed to celebrate the title-winning goal.
Speaking after the victory, Helenius said the team had focused on tightening its defence following a group-stage defeat to Switzerland.
“We wanted to keep the game close and avoid giving them easy chances. We executed our plan well, and it paid off,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Norway made history by claiming its first-ever World Championship medal. Noah Steen scored 3:32 into overtime to give Norway a stunning 3-2 victory over Canada in the bronze-medal match, leaving the tournament favourites without a place on the podium.
