Finland silenced Zurich with a defensive masterclass, while Norway stunned Canada in a historic overtime thriller to claim its first-ever medal on a dramatic final day.
The 2026 IIHF World Hockey Championship has officially come to an end, and Sunday's medal-round games delivered some of the most dramatic hockey of the tournament. Both contests required overtime to find a winner, leading to a podium few would have predicted when the event began two weeks ago in Zurich.
Here is how the top four teams finished after the final day at Swiss Life Arena:
Gold Medallists: Finland
The Finns put on a defensive clinic Sunday night, shutting down a high-powered Swiss team to capture their fifth World Championship title. After a scoreless 60 minutes of regulation, Konsta Helenius scored the overtime winner to secure a 1-0 victory and silence the home crowd.
Silver Medalists: Switzerland
It was a tough ending to an otherwise outstanding tournament for the hosts. Switzerland entered the gold medal game with a perfect 9-0 record and a tournament-high 39 goals, but they couldn't solve Finland's defensive structure when it mattered most. Despite the loss, the Swiss leave with a silver medal on home ice.
Bronze Medalists: Norway
In one of the biggest results in the country's hockey history, Norway defeated Canada 3-2 in overtime to secure its first-ever top-division IIHF medal. Noah Steen scored the winner on a 2-on-1 rush just over three minutes into overtime, sparking a celebration that will be remembered for years.
Fourth Place: Canada
Canada finishes outside the medals after a frustrating final weekend. After losing to Finland in the semifinals, they staged a late comeback in the bronze medal game, scoring twice in the final three minutes to force overtime before eventually falling to Norway.
The 2026 tournament will be remembered for its unpredictability and parity. International hockey continues to get deeper, and this year's event was another reminder that no team can take success for granted.
