FOG BLOG CANADA WINTER GAMES LOG: ONTARIO WINS GOLD IN MEN'S HOCKEY, SASK- SILVER , QUE- BRONZE!

ONTARIO WINS MEN’S HOCKEY GOLD AT 2023 CANADA WINTER GAMES

Saskatchewan takes home silver; Quebec wins bronze CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – For the sixth time, Ontario has won men’s hockey gold at the Canada Winter Games, besting Saskatchewan 3-2 in a double overtime thriller in the gold medal game at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown on Saturday night.

The win marks the 11th men’s hockey medal overall for Ontario at the Canada Winter Games, including its sixth gold (1971, 1983, 1991, 2007, 2015, 2023). It was a silver medallist twice (1987, 2019) and won bronze three times (1967, 1979, 2003). Saskatchewan won its first silver medal and second overall medal, having won gold in 1995. Matthew Schaefer (Hamilton, Ont./Halton, OMHA-SCTA) scored the golden goal 7:59 into the second extra frame, redirecting a pass through the legs of Saskatchewan goaltender Logan Edmonstone (Saskatoon, Sask./Saskatoon Contacts, SMAAAHL).

“We will look back and be able to say we were the best team in Canada. This was one of the biggest games I have ever played in,” Schaefer said. “We were down two goals but did not hold our heads down; we kept fighting through and found a way to win. I am sad that the [Canada Winter Games] is over, but it was an awesome experience while it lasted.”

Saskatchewan jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, as Kash Andresen (Saskatoon, Sask./Saskatoon Blazers, SMAAAHL) and Cole Reschny (Macklin, Sask./Saskatoon Blazers, SMAAAHL) found the back of the net.

Ryan Roobroeck (London, Ont./London, MHAO) cut Ontario’s deficit in half midway through the third period before Quinn Beauchesne (Ottawa, Ont./Nepean, HEO) tied the game at 2-2 on the powerplay 51 seconds later. Edmonstone and Ontario netminder Jack Ivankovic (Mississauga, Ont./Mississauga Senators, GTHL) turned in stellar performances, stopping 27 and 20 shots, respectively, in regulation and making key saves in overtime.