Quarter-final results
United States 7, Switzerland 2 – Ryan Leonard (Washington Capitals) and James Hagens (2025 draft eligible) each scored two goals to help the United States advance to the semifinals of the 2025 World Junior Championship.
Gabriel Perreault (New York Rangers) had three assists, Zeev Buium (Minnesota Wild) had a goal and an assist, while Brodie Ziemer (Buffalo Sabers) and Oliver Moore (Chicago Blackhawks) had two passes each. Hampton Slukynsky (Los Angeles Kings) finished the game with 17 saves in his second start in net for the United States.
The Americans, trying to defend their title from last year, book their ticket to the semifinals for the eighth time in the last 10 years.
They took a 4-1 lead in the first period thanks to goals from Brandon Svoboda (San Jose Sharks), Hagens, Leonard and Danny Nelson (New York Islanders). Svododa, Hagens and Leonard took turns scoring in the first 12 minutes of the game to chase goalkeeper Christian Kirch (three goals on 10 shots). Elijah Neuenschwander made 17 saves on 21 shots in relief.
Nils Rhyn cut the lead to 3-1 with a point shot while on the penalty kill, but Nelson put the United States back up three at 16:44 with a deflection.
Buium increased the lead to 5-1 on a power play off a pass from Perreault at 7:45 of the second period.
Hagens scored his second of the game with a perfectly executed pass-and-go with Perreault at 15:03. Then Leonard made it 7-1 at 16:25.
Andro Kaderli took advantage of a return to the slot at 6:53 of the third period to score Switzerland’s other goal.
The United States is undefeated in 27 duels against Switzerland at the World Junior Championship (25 wins, two draws).
Sweden 3, Latvia 2 – David Edstrom (Nashville Predators) scored the game-winner and Sweden held on to beat Latvia and advance to the semifinals.
Anton Wahlberg (Buffalo Sabres) and Zeb Forsfjall (Seattle Kraken) also scored for the Swedes, while Melker Thelin (Utah Hockey Club) made 11 saves.
Eriks Mateiko (Washington Capitals) scored both goals for Latvia. Markus Sieradzkis (2025 draft eligible) had two assists and Linards Feldbergs (2025 draft eligible) finished the game with 47 saves in front of the Latvian net.
Mateiko leads the tournament with five goals.
Forsfjall gave Sweden a 1-0 lead at 8:30 of the first period when he beat Feldbergs with a wrist shot under the glove on a fast break.
Wahlberg completed a one-time pass from Axel Sandin-Pellikka (Detroit Red Wings) to double the lead at 9:52.
Edstrom scored Sweden’s third goal on a return shot near the net at 3:57 of the second period.
The Swedes thought they had extended the lead to 4-0 when Edstrom scored again just under six minutes later, but the goal was disallowed after Latvia challenged for offside.
Mateiko cut the lead to 3-1 at 10:13 when he beat Thelin from the shield side crease. The 19-year-old forward did it again with 1:10 left in the second period by grabbing a return shot that he slipped between the opposing goalie’s pads.
