Canada Beats United States 3-2 to Win World U18 Championships

Canada defeated the United States 3-2 in the final game of the 2013 World U18 Championships to take home their first gold medal in the event since they won it in 2008. 2008 was also the last year that the United States didn't win the gold medal in this event.

The United States controlled play in the game, outshooting the Canadians 35-12, but some costly errors in the second period that Canada was able to take advantage of killed the United States. After Canada took a 3-2 lead in the second period, they were able to shut down the US for the entire third period to clinch the gold medal.

It's a disappointing end to the United States' streak, especially when this felt like a game the US should have dominated, with a good portion of Canada's top talent back home playing in the CHL playoffs. Maybe the NTDP/USA Hockey is a victim of their own success that a silver medal in this event feels like a failure, but given the resources the US puts into this event, they really should be taking gold every year.