Helenius hero as Lions clinch Ice Hockey WC title

An extra-time goal by Konsta Helenius brought victory for Finland against host Switzerland to win the Ice Hockey World Championship 2026.

The final match in the tournament held at Swiss Life Arena in Zurich late Sunday night ended goalless draw in the regular time leading the game to extra time when Helenius scored the golden goal at 11^th minute to ensure the fifth world title for the Lions.

The Finns started the game with full confidence and dominated over the hosts until middle to second period but failed to make any score. The Swiss, who were clearly nervous from the beginning but came back after the middle of second period making the match more competitive but they also failed to score.

Earlier in the first period Anton Lundell sent the puck into the Swizz net and thought they took 1-0 lead at the 14^th minute, but the goal was cancelled after a video review as Lundell tipped the puck in with his stick well above the height of the crossbar bringing relief for 10 thousands Swizz who were expecting victory in the match.

At the beginning of extra time Jesse Puljujarvi made a nice shot but it hit the sidebar beating Swizz goaltender Leonardo Genoni clearly.

Damien Riat of Switzerland took a shot that deflected off a stick and hit the crossbar snatching the opportunity to win the first ever world championship title for the Swizz despite remaining unbeaten in the whole tournament before the final.

Earlier on Saturday, Finland reached to the final beating Canada in semi-final by 4 goals to 2. Finland beat Czech Republic by 4 goals to 1 in quarter-final.

In the group matches Finland beat Germany by 3-1, Hungary by 4-1, USA by 6-2, Latvia by 7-1, Great Britain by 4-0 and Austria by 5-2 while lost to host Switzerland by 2-4.

Earlier, Finland won Ice Hockey World Championship title in 1995, 2011, 2019 and 2022.

Meanwhile, in the bronze medal game Norway beat supper power Canada by 3 goals to 2 in the extra time.

Although the Norwegians were leading the match 2-0 until 59th minute, two goals by Robert Thomas in less than last one and a half minutes levelled the score and took the game to the extra time.