From time to time, TheIHLC.com will feature detailed recaps and boxscores of some of the most legendary games in international hockey history, considered to be “IHLC Classics.” Today, in honour of Finnish Independence Day (itsenรคisyyspรคivรค), we look back at theย Leijonat’s thrilling home ice Gold Medal victory at the 1998 World Junior Championships, with Niklas Hagman’s overtime snipe securing the title in Helsinki.

๐ซ๐ฎ Finland 2-1 Russia ๐ท๐บ (OT)
World Junior Championship Gold Medal Game
Hartwall Areena, Helsinki ๐ซ๐ฎ
Saturday, 03 January 1998
Finland achieved its first World Junior Championship Gold in 1987, but at that time the rankings were decided by playing in series.
The playoffs only entered the World Junior Championship program for the 1995-96 Games, and what would be more comfortable than to settle World Cup Gold at home in extra time of the final?
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