Vancouver Giants forward Cameron Schmidt tucked in a backhand 9:18 into overtime to give Canada White a 2-1 win over the United States and the gold medal at the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Charlottetown on Saturday, Nov. 11.
It was the first U17 title for a Canadian team since 2015.
Canada White finished last in the round robin, but beat Canada Red in the semifinal 3-2 in overtime, and then crushed Sweden in the semifinal 6-1.
ICYMI: Giants forward Cameron Schmidt scored the OT winner for Canada ⚪️ on Saturday, helping @HockeyCanada win their first Gold Medal since 2015!
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) November 12, 2023
📸: James Broek | #WorldU17
MORE > https://t.co/Lebt1jZxXq pic.twitter.com/tgcLsrulK0
Schmidt was tied for fourth in the tournament in goals with five, doing so in eight games. All five of his goals came at even strength, including two in his team’s semifinal win on Friday.
The Prince George product was named Player of the Game for Canada White twice in the tournament, first in the second round-robin game when he scored two goals in a 4-3 win over Canada Red, and then in the semifinal victory over Sweden, when he also buried a pair of goals.
So far this season for the Giants, he has eight points in 10 games, three goals and five assists
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He was one of six Western Hockey League players who were part of the gold medal-winning Canada White squad.
Schmidt was selected seventh overall by the Vancouver Giants in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.
The 5’8” right-shot forward spent last season with the Rink Academy Kelowna U15 program. In 13 games, the Prince George, B.C. native recorded 25 goals and added 16 assists for 41 points, and added 38 penalty minutes.
At the time, Schmidt called his Giants signing “ an incredible honour.”
Giants General Manager Barclay Parneta described Schmidt as “a dynamic, offensive player with a great shot.”
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