ROBENHYMER: “Not many guys would have played with what he had going on.” Barrett Hayton Plays Through the Pain to Lead Canada to Gold

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic — From beating Team USA on opening night, to a 6-0 loss to Russia in the preliminary round and forgetting to take his helmet off during their national anthem, to a significant injury in the semifinal that nearly kept him from the championship game and then a come-from-behind win in a re-match with Russia to take home gold at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship — it’s been quite the roller coaster of emotions this past week and a half for Team Canada captain Barrett Hayton.

“It’s pretty crazy that it’s only been 11 days,” Hayton said with a slight shake of his head. “There were some ups and downs, some adversity in there, but I think at the end of the day that helps you. It’s just unreal to finish like this.”

You couldn’t wipe the smile from Hayton’s face as the