CHARLOTTETOWN, PE – For the first time since 2015, Canada White claims the gold medal at the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, needing overtime to get past the United States 2-1 in the gold medal game Saturday night at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown.

Bedford's Cole Chandler was a member of Team Canada White and posted two assists in eight games at the event. The 16-year old centre was selected 16th overall by the Shawinigan Cataractes in the 2023 QMJHL Entry Draft and has three goals and six assists in 15 games this season.

Canada took the early lead on the United States just 1:38 into the game when Joby Baumuller (Wilcox, SK/Brandon, WHL) redirected a centering pass from Ethan Czata (Brampton, ON/Niagara, OHL) past Patrick Quinlan.

Canada White maintained its one-goal advantage until 9:49 of the third period when Charlie Trethewey pulled the Americans even on the powerplay. The cross-border rivals would trade chances, but the game would need overtime to decide a champion. Canada secured the gold medal in front of a sold-out crowd when Cameron Schmidt (Prince George, BC/Vancouver, WHL) chased down the puck in the neutral zone, broke in all alone and put the backhand past Quinlan.”

“I kind of just blanked out, I just went to the backhand and it found its way in,” said Schmidt. “Obviously this team was thrown together but building that bond from the start and carrying it to the end of this tournament was a big thing. These are my brothers for life, and it was an amazing experience.”

“We really talked about wanting to get better every game,” said Canada White head coach, John Dean (Don Mills, ON/Sault Ste. Marie, OHL). “I was very fortunate to experience a very difficult game at the World Under-18 Championship. As coaches we’re learning as well and my first game in Switzerland we lost 8-1 and we ended up winning a bronze medal. I took some notes from the coach at the time, Jeff Truitt, on how to handle it and stay even keel and realize you don’t win a gold medal in the first game. The message to the rest of the group was we’re going to get better every single day. We went to overtime five times, only won one game in regulation; these guys went into the final game and had experienced everything – blowing leads, comebacks, shootouts, overtime wins, coaches being upset and being happy. They went through it all so I couldn’t ask for a better tournament because they got to experience it all and I think there’s a lot of growth here.”

Czechia finishes in fourth

In the bronze medal game on Saturday afternoon, Sweden used a three-goal second period to defeat Czechia 6-3.

Czechia held a slim one-goal advantage after the opening frame on a power play goal from Tomas Poletin. A short-handed tally by Milton Gästrin midway through the second pulled the Swedes even. They would add two more before the period ended to lead 3-1.

Czechia would add a pair of goals just over a minute apart, but it was a goal by Ivar Stenberg at 3:39 that would hold up as the eventual game winner.

Stellarton's Owen Conrad was the only other Nova Scotian to play in the event. The Charlottetown Islanders defenceman represented Team Canada Red and had three assists in seven games.

Following the gold medal game, the tournament all-star team was announced. Émile Guité (Chambly, QC/Chicoutimi, LHJMQ) of Canada White, Gavin McKenna (Whitehorse, YT/Medicine Hat, WHL) from Canada Red and Will Moore (Ithaca, NY) of the United States comprise the forwards. Matthew Schaefer (Stoney Creek, ON/Erie, OHL) from Canada White and Charlie Trethewey (Woodbine, MD) are the top defencemen, while Jack Ivankovic (Mississauga, ON/Mississauga, OHL) of Canada White claimed the top goaltender.

For more information on the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, please visit www.HockeyCanada.ca.