Five players who skated as affiliate players in the Ontario Junior Hockey League are celebrating as World Junior champions tonight.

All were members of Canada’s National Junior Team that scored a dramatic 4-3 win over Russia in the championship game at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ostrava, Czech Republic Sunday.

Forwards Akil Thomas and Connor McMichael and defenceman Jamie Drysdale played for the St. Michael’s Buzzers.

Quinton Byfield played for the Newmarket Hurricanes (now Milton Menace) and Ty Dellandrea for the Whitby Fury.

Canada scored three unanswered third-period goals to win the game. Thomas scored the winning goal on a solo rush with 3:58 remaining in regulation time.

Image: Hockey Canada