"I definitely felt it a little bit but I put my all into that shot," Hayton said.
Hayton was Canada's captain and leading scorer with 12 points (six goals, six assists), and on Sunday also was an inspiration.
"That's why he's our captain," coach Dale Hunter said. "He wanted to play. And to zip that puck, you know, that was a heck of a shot. For him to show up and do something like that is special. He led the way."
Lafreniere named MVP
Alexis Lafreniere, expected to be the No. 1 pick of the 2020 NHL Draft, was named the most valuable player and best forward at the WJC.
The 18-year-old Canada forward had two assists in the championship game against Russia and 10 points (four goals, six assists) in five tournament games. He missed the final two games of the preliminary round because of an injury to his left knee.
Lafreniere's teammate Joel Hofer (St. Louis Blues) was named the best goaltender. After replacing Nicholas Daws (2020 Draft eligible) during the second period against Russia on Dec. 28, Hofer allowed nine goals on 148 shots (.939 save percentage) in six games.
Rasmus Sandin (Toronto Maple Leafs) was named the best defenseman. He led the position and was tied for fourth among all skaters with 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in seven games.
Lafreniere, Hofer and Sandin also made the Media All-Star team, along with Canada forward Barrett Hayton (Arizona Coyotes), Sweden forward Samuel Fagemo (Los Angeles Kings) and Russia defenseman Alexander Romanov.
Fagemo led all players with eight goals and 13 points. Hayton was second in scoring with 12 points (six goals, six assists).
Beecher suspended
United States forward John Beecher (Boston Bruins) was given a one-game suspension Sunday for boarding Finland forward Eemil Erholtz (2020 Draft eligible) during the first period of a 5-0 loss in the quarterfinals Thursday.
If Beecher plays for the United States at the 2021 WJC, he will be suspended for the first game.
Groups set for 2021 WJC
Canada will play its preliminary-round games at Rogers Place, home of the Edmonton Oilers, at the 2021 World Juniors.
The 2020 WJC champion will be in Group A, along with Finland, Switzerland, Slovakia and Germany.
The United States will be in Group B, along with Russia, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Austria, and will play its preliminary-round games at ENMAX Centrium in Red Deer, Alberta.
Germany to return in 2021
Dominik Bokk (Carolina Hurricanes) scored two goals to help Germany to a 6-0 win against Kazakhstan in the final game of the best-of-3 relegation round.
The victory means Germany will play in the 2021 WJC in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, while Kazakhstan will play one level down, in the WJC Division IA.
"It was just important to give the opportunity to guys to come next year to play in the top division," said Germany captain Moritz Seider (Detroit Red Wings), who had an assist Sunday and six assists in seven games. "Everybody was focused, everybody was dialed in today and I think we deserved the win."
Austria, which won the WJC Division IA tournament in Belarus last month, will replace Kazakhstan for the 2021 WJC.