Canada triumphs over Slovakia to claim gold at Torino 2025 World University Games

This win marks Canada’s sixth title since the tournament began in 1962 and its fourth since 2007, solidifying its legacy in university-level hockey.

Coming off a commanding 10-2 semifinal win against the United States, Canada entered the final with high momentum but faced a determined Slovakian team. Slovakia, which edged Ukraine 3-1 in their semifinal, was resolute in its defense and showcased impressive teamwork throughout the tournament.

Sasha Mutala, a standout forward from the University of British Columbia, opened the scoring in the dying seconds of the first period. “Getting one before the break was huge,” Mutala reflected. “Every line was building momentum, so it was only a matter of time before someone scored. I’m just lucky it was me.”

Mutala’s goal underscored his knack for delivering in high-pressure situations. A fifth-round draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2019, Mutala has a history of excelling in international play, including two decisive goals in the gold-medal game of the 2018 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup.

Canada extended its lead in the second period with a goal from Colson Gengenbach, assisted by Conor Frenette and Simon Lavigne. Slovakia responded with a power-play goal by captain Jakub Uram, who capitalized on a blue-line shot to bring the score to 2-1. Despite Slovakia’s efforts to equalize in the third period, Canada’s disciplined defense, led by goaltender Kai Edmonds, held strong.

Edmonds, a veteran of Canada’s 2023 FISU gold-medal team, emphasized the team’s preparation and experience. “A lot of our team comes from top programs in Canada,” he said. “We’ve all been in these situations before, and that experience set us up for success.”

With Slovakia pulling their goalie for an extra attacker in the final minutes, Canadian captain Jack Duff sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, securing the 3-1 final score.

For Slovakia, the silver medal is their seventh overall at the FISU Games and their third in men’s hockey, following silvers in 1999 and 2019. Head coach Ivan Feneš praised his team’s resilience and performance. “We have to admit in a sporting sense that the better team won the final,” Feneš remarked. “But the boys played an excellent tournament. It’s not easy to study, play hockey, and compete at this level over 11 days.”

Captain Jakub Uram echoed the sentiment, noting the team’s effort to match Canada’s intensity. “Canada is Canada—they’re a strong team. We had our chances to tie the game, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out. Still, I’m proud of what we accomplished.”

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