Sweden defeats Slovakia to win 2026 U-18 World Championship
Sweden has won gold at the 2026 IIHF U-18 Men’s World Championship after beating Slovakia 4-2 on Saturday in Bratislava.
Sweden had won gold twice previously, doing so in 2019 and 2022. The Swedes have won a medal in seven straight events heading into this year, with their championship pushing them up to eight.
Slovakia has never won gold, but did take home silver at the 2003 tournament. Despite making the final four for the fourth straight year, the Slovaks were guaranteed a medal for the first time in that span after losing in the bronze medal game three straight times.
Sweden’s Wiggo Sorensson had the lone goal of the opening period, tapping in Ola Palme’s point shot to make it 1-0 at 5:53. Slovakia had just three shots in the first period, looking slower and less in-tune with each other than the Swedes.
Slovakia simply didn’t have the pace to contend for the win, and that was exemplified by the 2-0 Swedish goal. Late in the second, Axel Elofsson dangled past a Slovak attacker and found Elton Hermansson near the net, making it a 2-0 game. Adam Andersson and Ola Palme each scored again for Sweden, which ultimately negated the late-game push from Ivan Matta and Timothy Kazda.
Here’s a look at some of the top performers on Saturday.
Slovakia
#30 Samuel Hrenak, G: That opening goal was not his fault. And after that, he did everything in his power to keep his team in the hunt, especially given they rarely found the net. Hrenak wasn’t in net for the historic win against Canada, but he was lights out the rest of the tournament, giving the Slovaks a chance every single night, no matter what.
#19 Timothy Kazda, RW (2027): Kazda is going to be a first-rounder in 2027, no question about it. He’s so smart and skilled and came up clutch numerous times for the Slovaks. Kazda has the potential to be a legit top-six forward in the NHL thanks to his high-end hockey sense.
Sweden
#2 Axel Elofsson, D: That pass on the 2-0 goal was incredible, and not surprising, either. He’s a skilled defender who can toe drag with the best of them, and isn’t afraid to get fancy under pressure. Elofsson is one of the most entertaining defenders in this age group, so it was good to see him end the tourney on a high.
#17 Elton Hermansson, RW: If there were any doubts about Elton Hermansson’s value at a touurnament under pressure, they’re not existent now. The first-liner had four shots in the first period and scored the 2-0 goal off of great positioning around the crease. He’s a gifted goal-scorer, and was easily one of the best players every single night.
#22 Wiggo Sorensson, C: If you didn’t know Sorensson before the tournament, you do now. He’s so smart and skilled, and he battles hard around the crease. He didn’t have much balance on the 1-0 goal, but he was still in the right spot at the right time to tap in the loose puck. Few players have boosted their draft status as much as Sorensson has over the past two weeks – he didn’t play a bad game at any point.
—
CHECK OUT OFF THE ROSTER – NEW EPISODES EVERY WEEKDAY
Off The Roster is Toronto sports. Hosted by Cabbie Richards, Lindsay Dunn, and Dan Riccio, this is the go-to morning conversation for everything happening in the 6ix – Hockey, Baseball, Basketball and everything in between. From breakout performances and questionable trades to throwback jerseys, viral moments, and the stories fans are actually talking about – it’s smart, sharp, and never scripted. Live weekday mornings on the Nation Network YouTube channel and available wherever you stream podcasts, the show delivers real opinions, real chemistry, and real Toronto energy. Missed an episode? Catch up anytime. Off The Roster—The new sound of the 6ix.