CALGARY, AB – Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team has won the gold medal in Kazan, Russia at the 2008 IIHF World Men’s Under-18 Championship, after defeating Russia 8-0 on Wednesday.

Canada scored early and often in the game, with Nicolas Deschamps (Delson, QC/Chicoutimi, QMJHL) opening the scoring with a shorthanded goal at 4:32. Canada scored four more times in the opening 20 minutes, with Jordan Eberle (Calgary, AB/Regina, WHL) netting a pair and Corey Trivino (Toronto, ON/Stouffville, OPJHL) and Brayden Schenn (Saskatoon, SK/Brandon, WHL) added singles.

Tyler Cuma (Bowmanville, ON/Ottawa, OHL) and Brandon McMillan (Delta, BC/Kelowna, WHL) scored for Canada in the second period and Taylor Hall (Kingston, ON/Windsor, OHL) sniped for Canada in the third.

The gold medal is Canada’s third medal all-time at the event. Canada has competed in the tournament every year since 2002, winning gold in 2003 and silver in 2005. The roster for Team Canada is made up of the best junior-aged players who aren’t involved in playoffs in Canada. Twenty-one of the 22 players on Team Canada are from CHL teams.

Jake Allen (Fredericton, NB/St. John’s, QMJHL) was named Top Goaltender of the 2008 IIHF World Men’s Under-18 Championship. Allen made 18 saves in the final for the shutout.

During the gold medal game, Canada’s players honoured Ed Chynoweth, who passed away on Tuesday in Calgary. Players wore ‘Ed’ stickers on their helmets to honour Chynoweth, who was WHL Chairman of the Board and president of the Kootenay Ice and a long-time president of the WHL.

Players and staff will be returning to Canada (Toronto, AC0877 at 7:45 p.m. ET) on Thursday and then connecting to various destinations.