International Notes: Worlds, IIHF Hall Of Fame, Subban

Sunday represented the end of the 2026 World Championship, with Finland taking on the host Switzerland in the Gold Medal Game.  After the game was goalless in regulation, both teams drew iron with shots in first four minutes of overtime.  Then, a little past the midway mark of overtime, Konsta Helenius (a late-event addition after the Sabres were eliminated from the playoffs) was able to beat Leonardo Genoni to give Finland the Gold.  It’s the third straight year that the Swiss squad has made the championship game and the third straight time they failed to score a goal.  Although they came up short, Predators defenseman Roman Josi was named tournament MVP.

Meanwhile, in the Bronze Medal Game, Norway pulled off the upset, overcoming a blown two-goal lead with less than two minutes to go to beat Canada 3-2 in overtime.  The winner was scored by Lightning prospect Noah Steen, who finished off the season in the minors with Syracuse.  Heading into the tournament, Norway’s best finish came all the way back in 1951 when they finished fourth.  It’s their first-ever medal in any IIHF top-division tournament.  Canada, meanwhile, has now failed to secure a medal for the third straight year.

Other news from the world of international hockey:

• As is customary on the final day of the tournament, the IIHF revealed its 2026 Hall of Fame Class. A trio of former NHL players are among the class: center Patrice Bergeron, winger Thomas Vanek, and defenseman Niklas Kronwall.  Winger Andres Ambuhl, briefly a Rangers prospect, was also among this year’s class with the mandatory waiting period being waived; he played in a record 20 World Championship events for the Swiss.  Former NHL head coach Ralph Krueger along with Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Florence Schelling, and outgoing IIHF President Luc Tardif round out the class.
• After failing to land a deal in North America at the start of the season, Malcolm Subban had to wait a little more than a month before he landed a deal in Czechia. He didn’t play a ton (just 11 games between two leagues) but he did well enough for the league champions to stick around.  HC Dynamo Pardubice announced that they’ve inked the 32-year-old for the upcoming season.  Subban is only a couple of years removed from being pressed into NHL action but with limited playing time since then, it’s looking less likely that he’ll receive another opportunity at the top level.