Finland won the IIHF Under-18 World Championships for the first time in 16 years after beating Sweden in the final in the American city of Grand Forks ©Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images

Finland won the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Under-18 World Championships for the first time in 16 years after beating Sweden in the final in the American city of Grand Forks.

Having beaten Russia in the quarter-finals and defending champions United States in the last four, Jesse Puljujarvi shone with a hat-trick as Finland overcame their Scandinavian neighbours 6-1.

Eeli Tolvanen, Otto Somppi and Eetu Tuulola also chipped in with a goal apiece for last year’s silver medallists, while Lias Andersson scored Sweden’s solitary reply.

"Today everything worked," said Finland coach Jussi Ahokas.

"It was a great, great game.

"All our guys had a great effort."

Finland last claimed the gold medal in 2000, when they successfully defended the title they’d won a year earlier at the inaugural edition of the Championships in the German towns of Füssen and Kaufbeuren.

Finland proved too strong for their Scandinavian neighbours Sweden
Finland proved too strong for their Scandinavian neighbours Sweden ©Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images

Their victory comes on the back of the country securing top honours at this year’s IIHF Under-20 World Championships on home ice in Helsinki, reclaiming the crown they won in 2014.

Today's hero Puljujarvi was also part of that triumph and is now one of just three players to have won IIHF Under-18 and Under-20 World Championship gold medals in the same year.

Hosts America recovered from their 4-2 semi-final defeat against Finland to win the bronze medal match 10-3 at the expense of Canada, who lost 6-5 against Sweden in the last four.

Finland will look to defend their gold medal at the 2017 IIHF Under-18 World Championships in Slovakia.

The tournament is due to take place in Poprad and Spisska Nova Ves.