Bedard, a 17-year-old forward who is the projected No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, leads the tournament with 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) in six games.
Canada, which scored six straight goals after falling behind 2-0, is 31-3-3-9 with three ties in its past 49 games against the United States. The U.S. had won five of its past six WJC games against Canada.
“The U.S. is our big rival,” said Canada forward Joshua Roy (Montreal Canadiens), who had two goals and two assists. “Everybody in the room was ready for that game. We didn’t have the start we wanted, but we got back in the game.”
Adam Fantilli (2023 draft eligible), Brandt Clarke (Los Angeles Kings) and Logan Stankoven (Dallas Stars) each had a goal and an assist, and Thomas Milic (2023 draft eligible) made 43 saves for Canada, which is 4-1-0-1 against the United States in the World Junior semifinals, losing 5-1 at the 2013 tournament.
“You have to give them credit, they played great,” U.S. coach Rand Pecknold said of the defending champion. “Their goalie was the best player on the ice. He was excellent and that’s part of hockey.”
Milic made 15 saves in the second period, including one against Jimmy Snuggerud (St. Louis Blues) from the slot at 6:44. He made 12 saves in the third period, including a sliding block against Cutter Gauthier (Philadelphia Flyers) on a puck that bounced into the slot off the end boards at 3:51.
Canada seeks a second straight championship and its 20th overall when it plays Czechia in the gold-medal game here Thursday (6:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN). Czechia defeated Sweden 2-1 in overtime in the first semifinal Wednesday.
“It’s obviously awesome,” Bedard said. “Especially, to play the Czechs again. Obviously, the team that beat us (5-2 in the preliminary round on Dec. 26) … it’s exciting. That being said, we didn’t come here to make to the finals, we came here to win the gold.”
Canada can become the first team to win back-to-back championships since it won the last of five straight in 2009.
“That was an unbelievable moment, last year, to win it,” Roy said. “I want to do it again this year: Win the gold medal. It’s just incredible. We’re going to do everything for it.”
Trey Augustine (2023 draft eligible) made 31 saves for the United States, which will play Sweden in the bronze-medal game here Thursday (2:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN).
“I mean, we just didn’t pop sticks, and they got a couple of good chances and they buried them,” U.S. captain Luke Hughes (New Jersey Devils) said.
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