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.

Quebec defeats British Columbia 7-3 to earn bronze

Earlier in the day, Quebec rebounded after a hard-fought 4-3 loss to Saskatchewan in the semifinals to win the bronze medal, downing British Columbia 7-3 at Credit Union Place in Summerside. The win gives Quebec its sixth bronze medal (1971, 1975, 1979, 1983, 1995, 2023) in men’s hockey at the event, along with two gold (1987, 2019) and three silver (1999, 2003, 2011).

Shawn Carrier (Trois-Rivières, Que./Trois-Rivières, LDHM18AAAQ) and Nathan Lecompte (Châteauguay, Que./Châteauguay, LDHM18AAAQ) contributed two goals apiece to lead the offence for Quebec, while Olivier Lampron (Mirabel, Que./Saint-Eustache, LDHM18AAAQ) chipped in with four assists.

Quebec goaltender William Lacelle (Baie-d’Urfé, Que./Lac St-Louis, LDHM18AAAQ) made 38 saves, including a stop on a first-period penalty shot, to help Québec win its 11th medal overall in men’s hockey at the event.

“We showed character tonight and we came out with the bronze [medal]. I am proud of the boys and proud of myself,” Lacelle said. “I practice a lot of penalty shots at home, so I was ready for [the penalty shot in the first period]. I have had so much fun on [Prince Edward Island] and getting the chance to play tonight and show my ability was a great feeling.”

For more information on men’s hockey at the 2023 Canada Winter Games, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along via social media on Twitter.