Finland Are World Champions: Konsta Helenius Crushes Swiss Hearts in Overtime
Finland are world champions. Konsta Helenius beat Leonardo Genoni at 10:42 of overtime to settle a goalless gold medal game and snatch a fifth IIHF World Championship title from the hands of host Switzerland in front of 10,000 stunned fans at Swiss Life Arena.
It is Finland's first gold since 2022, and a fifth in the modern era. For Switzerland it is a fifth silver medal in thirteen years and a heartbreak the country may take a long time to process.
How it ended
The puck dropped at 20:20 and through three periods of regulation neither side broke through. Genoni was perfect for sixty minutes. Justus Annunen at the other end matched him save for save. Period one ended 0-0 with shots 7-14 to the Swiss. The second was 8-2 Switzerland shots, also goalless. The third tilted Finnish, 6-4 shots, and the game pushed into a four-on-four overtime.
Ten minutes and forty-two seconds in, Anton Lundell collected a loose puck in the offensive zone and slid it to Helenius. The 19-year-old, who had also scored in the semifinal win over Canada, ripped a shot past Genoni for the dagger. Mikko Lehtonen picked up the second assist. Genoni was pulled the instant the puck crossed the line. The Finnish bench emptied.
Helenius the hero
Konsta Helenius is the story. The Buffalo Sabres prospect, ranked among the top 10 of his 2024 draft class, came into the tournament as Finland's youngest forward and leaves it as the gold-medal-winning goalscorer at 19. He had already scored the second-period equalizer in the semifinal against Canada. Tonight he finished what he started.
For head coach Antti Pennanen, who joined Finland in 2023 after serving as an assistant on the 2019 gold-medal staff, this is a vindication. Pennanen was reportedly on the hot seat after a disappointing Olympic showing in February. Finland have now answered with a title.
Annunen's shutout
Justus Annunen made 22 saves on 22 shots for the shutout and the gold-medal win. The 25-year-old Colorado Avalanche backup goalie was rock solid all tournament and produced his cleanest sheet on the biggest night. Joonas Korpisalo backed up.
Genoni's heartbreak
Leonardo Genoni was, somehow, the loser. The 38-year-old Zug goaltender allowed one goal on 28 shots, the only puck to beat him in 70 minutes and 42 seconds of work. In the semifinal shutout of Norway he was perfect. Tonight he was perfect for sixty minutes and then one shot tilted his career to a fourth Worlds silver. Genoni has now lost four finals at the World Championship (2018, 2024, 2025, 2026). At his age, that may have been his last chance.
Swiss heartbreak
For Switzerland, the silver curse continues. Their fifth final loss in thirteen years, 2013, 2018, 2024, 2025 and now 2026. Roman Josi captains another silver. Timo Meier returned from suspension and played 22:51 without a goal. Nico Hischier dominated the dot at 64.71% but could not find the net. Christoph Bertschy, the hero of the semifinal, was held off the scoresheet. Cadieux, in his first championship as Switzerland head coach, watched his team match Finland for 70 minutes and lose the match in an instant.
The 12,000 in Zurich gave Switzerland a standing ovation as the silver medals were draped over their shoulders. Then Finland skated. Barkov hoisted. Helenius beamed. Annunen took the Tournament MVP award.
Final tournament results
- Gold: Finland - Silver: Switzerland - Bronze: Norway (their first ever) - Fourth: Canada
The 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship ends as it began, with Finland on top of the podium.