Garland celebrates World Championship and Vancouver Canucks fans couldn't be happier for him
Team USA is supposed to be the enemy, but not for Vancouver Canucks fans on Sunday.
Canucks fans were seemingly thrilled at the World Championship win for the Americans, and that has everything to do with Conor Garland and Drew O’Connor. The two Canucks forwards had gold medals hanging around their necks after USA’s 1-0 win over Switzerland at the IIHF World Championship.
Golden Garly. 🥹🏆#Canucks #MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/zlPTfGzlfH
— kelsylwright (@kelsylwright) May 25, 2025
Tage Thompson scored the golden goal in overtime, giving Team USA its first gold medal at this tournament since 1933.
“What a group; what a fun month,” Garland said post-game. “If we lost, we lost… but we didn’t. We’re such a tight-knit group, that’s just the way it always is with USA Hockey.”
“It feels awesome,” added O’Connor. “It’s been a long time coming. U.S. hockey has been growing and getting better every year. We haven’t had success here, but you’ve seen it in the World Juniors and things like that.”
Garland played a key role for the Americans in the tournament, finishing second on his team with 10 points (5-5-10) in 10 games. A day earlier, the IIHF named the pint-sized Canucks winger one of the top three players on his team.
Garland was in a dancing mood during the post-game champagne celebration.
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