STATISTICAL RESULTS
Teddy Stiga scored the game-winning goal in overtime and the United States were crowned World Junior champions with a 4-3 victory over Finland on Sunday night in Ottawa.
The United States thus won two gold medals in a row for the first time in their history. They won in 2024 and before in 2021, for a total of seven consecrations.
It was the 11th time in the history of the World Cup that the final was decided in overtime.
Named best goalkeeper of the tournament, Petteri Rimpinen gave the Finns a chance to win three on three in overtime by saving a goal on a point-blank shot from Zeev Buium, before frustrating captain Ryan Leonard then James Hagens in quick succession.
After Finland dominated in the first period, Team USA dominated 26-9 in shots from the second. Brandon Svoboda and Cole Hutson, younger brother of CH prospect Lane Hutson, tied the game during this period. They continued with an aggressive attack in overtime and Stiga had the last laugh by racing past Rimpinen alone.
Trey Augustine was the winning goaltender with 21 saves.
Finland dominated the first half and the United States was just defending as best it could. They finally gave in to Jesse Kiiskinen, who beat goaltender Trey Augustine on the glove side with a superb wrist shot. Finland then led 1-0 after 7:13 of play.
The United States tied the game 1-1 five minutes later. Arttu Tuhkala missed his exit from the zone, Ryan Leonard took a shot blocked by the goalkeeper and James Hagens jumped on the return. Hagens amassed a fifth goal and a ninth point in the tournament as part of the top line completed by Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard who had been shut out in the preliminary round against Finland, in an overtime loss.
Barely a minute later, Finland regained control when Tuomas Uronen beat Augustine from the top of the circles, a weak point for the goalkeeper in the current edition. Emil Hemming collected a second assist on the sequence.
Finland picked up where they left off in the second period, increasing their lead to 3-1 in the opening minutes. A collision between two American teammates in their own territory paved the way for Emil Pieniniemi.
The Americans got lucky late in the second period when Brandon Svoboda’s shot deflected off the arm of opposing defender Daniel Nieminen and slipped into the back of the net.
It was enough to create a spark, as Cole Hutson leveled the score at 3-3 less than two minutes later.
Czechia won bronze earlier today at the expense of Sweden.
