Team USA is a back-to-back champion for the first time at the world junior hockey championship.
It took a major rally against Finland on Sunday in Ottawa to make it happen.
Outplayed in the first period and trailing 3-1 early in the second period, the USA took advantage of a Brandon Svoboda fluke goal that deflected off a Finnish player and a skilled goal off the rush by Cole Hutson to tie the game before the second intermission.
Teddy Stiga then scored on a breakaway at 8:04 of overtime for a 4-3 victory and a second consecutive gold medal at the under-20 tournament.
Finland, which had won five in a row coming into Sunday’s game, received silver medals.
The USA went undefeated last year in winning gold. This year, the Americans lost 4-3 in overtime to Finland in the preliminary round. But they turned around that score in the title game and will enter next year’s tournament in Minnesota as back-to-back defending champions.
Captain Ryan Leonard was named tournament MVP. He played the last two games with a full shield after taking a puck off the face in the quarterfinals. He had two assists in the gold medal game, a goal and an assist in the semifinal and five goals and five assists for the tournament.
Czechia defeated Sweden 3-2 in a 14-round shootout to win a second consecutive bronze medal.
Here are highlights from the medal games at the world junior hockey championship:
Top players at the tournament
USA wins gold in overtime
Teddy Stiga breaks in alone and scores the winner. It was his first goal of the tournament for a 4-3 victory and back-to-back gold medals for the USA.
Petteri Rimpinen stellar
He stops a Zeev Buium one-timer and a Ryan Leonard breakaway.
Overtime begins
The USA is outshooting Finland 34-22 in the game.
Finland and USA head to overtime again
Finland beat the USA 4-3 in overtime in the preliminary round. Tuomas Uronen scored the winning goal in that game.
End of third period: USA 3, Finland 3
There will be a 15-minute intermission, then they will play 3-on-3 overtime for 20-minute periods until someone scores. This is the second game of the day that went to overtime after Czechia beat Sweden in a shootout for the bronze medal.
Three minutes left
Still 3-3. Trey Augustine stops a shot by Tuomas Uronen.
Eight minutes left
Still 3-3.
Ryan Leonard stopped
Petteri Rimpinen stops the U.S. captain on his charge to the net.
Third period underway
Score is 3-3.
End of second period: USA 3, Finland 3
If Finland controlled the first period, the USA controlled the second part of the second period. They get a Brandon Svoboda fluke goal that goes off a Finnish defender and a high-skilled goal by Cole Hutson to tie the game. Hutson and Ryan Leonard have two points apiece.
USA-Finland score: Cole Hutson ties it up
Cole Hutson ties the game with 28.7 seconds left in the second period. Hutson shows his speed and mobility after taking a pass from Ryan Leonard. Nice moves. Better shot.
USA-Finland score: Brandon Svoboda scores
He circles to the blue line and fires a long shot that deflects in off a Finnish player. USA down 3-2 with 2:22 left in the second period.
Good chance by USA
Zeev Buium and Ryan Leonard work a give-and-go, but Petteri Rimpinen stops Buium and the rebound goes out of play.
USA takes lead in shots
They’re up 18-17, but still trail 3-1.
Midway point of second period
USA starts to get some more chances. Petteri Rimpinen loses his goalie stick, but Finland is able to clear.
USA-Finland score: Finns take two-goal lead
Two U.S. players collide, which creates space for Finland’s Emil Pieniniemi to skate into the right faceoff circle and rip a shot to Trey Augustine’s blocker side at 4:52 of the second. This is the USA’s first two-goal deficit of the tournament.
Second period underway
Finland leads 2-1.
End of first period: Finland 2, USA 1
Finland comes out with the lead after controlling play for most of the period. Its once-struggling power play connects again. The USA doesn’t get much of a sustained attack and is outshot 13-8. A positive: The Boston College line connects after being shut out in the teams’ meeting in the preliminary round.
USA-Finland score: Finns retake lead
Tuomas Uronen beats Trey Augustine from the right faceoff circle at 13:03 for a 2-1 lead less than a minute after the USA tied the game. He had scored the overtime winner against the USA in the preliminary round.
USA-Finland score: James Hagens ties game
USA had been outplayed for much of the game, but captain Ryan Leonard takes a shot and James Hagens finesses the rebound over a diving Petteri Rimpinen. Score is 1-1.
USA-Finland score: Finns score on power play
Jesse Kiiskinen scores from between the faceoff circles for a 1-0 lead. He has a goal in six consecutive games. Finland scored the first goal against the USA in the preliminary round, too.
Finland goes on power play
Max Plante is called for hooking. Finland scored two power-play goals against Sweden in the semifinals.
Five minutes in
Finland getting the better chances so far.
Game underway
Winner gets gold. Loser gets silver.
USA vs. Finland goalies
USA’s Trey Augustine vs. Finland’s Petteri Rimpinen
When is USA vs. Finland world juniors hockey game?
The United States and Finland will play for gold at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, though the game start might be delayed because of the length of the bronze medal game.
How to watch USA vs. Finland world juniors hockey game
Both games will be shown on NHL Network in the United States and on TSN in Canada.
How to stream USA vs. Finland world juniors hockey game
Fubo and Sling carry NHL Network in the United States.
Which USA players are back from last year’s gold medal team?
Goalies: Trey Augustine, Michigan State; Sam Hillebrandt, Barrie Colts
Defensemen: Zeev Buium, Denver University; Drew Fortescue, Boston College, Aram Minnetian, Boston College
Forwards: Ryan Leonard, Boston College; Oliver Moore, University of Minnesota; Danny Nelson, Notre Dame; Gabe Perreault, Boston College; Carey Terrance, Erie Otters
USA’s projected lines
What is the U.S. record vs. Finland at the world juniors?
The USA has 16 wins and 19 losses at the world juniors vs. Finland. They also tied once. One of those losses was Finland’s 4-3 overtime win this year in the preliminary round.
Czechia wins bronze medal in shootout vs. Sweden
Otto Stenberg and Eduard Sale go again in the 14th round. Sale scores on a backhander to give Czechia the bronze and three consecutive medals at the world junior hockey championship. Sweden finishes out of a medal a year after winning silver.
Round 13
Sweden’s Otto Stenberg and Czechia’s Eduard Sale score. Still tied.
Heading to round 11
Sweden shooting first.
Tied after eight rounds
Jakub Stancl hits the post.
Tied after five rounds
Sweden now shooting first.
Shootout tied 1-1 after two rounds
Czechia’s Jakub Stancl and Sweden’s Axel Sandin-Pellika score in the second round.
Bronze medal game going to a shootout
It’s five rounds in international hockey before sudden death. Sweden elects to go second.
Two minutes left in overtime
Czechia’s Eduard Sale has a couple good chances, but Marcus Gidlof stops him.
End of third period: Sweden 2, Czechia 2
Sweden will go to overtime for the second game in a row. Not much action in the third period. They’ll play 10 minutes of 3-on-3 overtime, then a shootout, if necessary.
Nice save by Michael Hrabal
Sweden picking up play. Czechia goalie Michael Hrabal gets his glove on a deflection.
Midway through the third period
When Sweden was trailing Finland on Saturday, it played a dominant third period. With the score tied in this game, both sides are playing a tight defensive game. Not many chances out there. Still 2-2.
Third period underway
Score tied 2-2.
Where is the 2026 world junior hockey championship?
It will be held in Minneapolis-Saint Paul from Dec. 26, 2025, to Jan. 5, 2026. The ceremonial passing of the puck took place in Ottawa on Sunday afternoon.
End of second period: Sweden 2, Czechia 2
Pretty evenly played period. Czechia’s Eduard Sale scores after a turnover and Sweden’s Felix Unger Sorum sets up David Edstrom for a second goal. Shots are 11-10 Sweden in the period.
Sweden-Czechia score: David Edstrom ties it up
David Edstrom scores his second goal of the game with a deflection for a 2-2 tie with 4:20 left in the second period. Felix Unger Sorum gets his second assist of the game.
Sweden-Czechia score: Czechs capitalize on turnover
Linus Eriksson’s pass goes right on the stick of Czechia’s Miroslav Holinka. He finds Eduard Sale alone in front and he roofs a backhander for his sixth goal of the tournament. 2-1 Czechia.
Second period underway
Score is 1-1.
End of first period: Sweden 1, Czechia 1
Czechia scores on its first shot, then Sweden controls play, thanks to three power plays. A Czechia deflection goes just wide in the last seconds. Shots are 9-5 Sweden.
Sweden-Czechia score: Sweden ties it up
Czechia’s Jiri Felcman is in the penalty box for charging. David Edstrom scores on a rebound to tie the game 1-1. Axel Sandin-Pellika gets the secondary assist for his 10th point of the tournament.
Sweden goes on power play
Sweden has the second-best power play in the tournament. They generate two shots, but Czechia kills the penalty.
Sweden-Czechia score: Czechs score on power play
Jakub Stancl remains hot with his seventh goal of the tournament. The Czechs pass the puck around well on the power play and Stancl scores on a one-timer at 3:47 for a 1-0 lead. A Swedish defender got his stick on the puck but it snuck through to Stancl.
Sweden vs. Czechia underway for bronze medal
Michael Hrabal is back in net for Czechia but Marcus Gidlof is starting for Sweden. He has played one game in the tournament, beating Kazakhstan. Melker Thelin had played in Saturday’s semifinal loss to Finland.
Today’s world juniors hockey games
All times p.m. ET
Sweden vs. Czechia, 3:30
United States vs. Finland, 7:30
USA vs. Finland players to watch
United States: The Boston College line of Ryan Leonard, Gabe Perreault and James Hagens has combined for 25 points. Leonard has a team-best five goals. Perreault and Boston University’s Cole Hutson have a team-best nine points. Hagens (eight points) is considered the top prospect in the 2025 NHL draft.
Finland: Draft-eligible goalie Petteri Rimpinen has played every minute and has a 2.12 goals-against average. Forward Jesse Kiiskinen has a five-game goal streak. Forward Konsta Helenius has seven assists.
Medal games feature familiar opponents
This year’s medal games are a rematch of the 2024 semifinals. The USA beat Finland 3-2 and Sweden beat Czechia 5-2 last year.
How many gold medals has the USA won at the world juniors?
The USA has won six goal medals: 2004, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2021 and 2024.
How many gold medals has Finland won at the world juniors?
Finland has won five gold medals: 1987, 1998, 2014, 2016 and 2019.
How many total medals has the USA won at the world juniors?
The USA has won 15 medals: six gold, two silver and seven bronze.
How many total medals has Finland won at the world juniors?
Finland has won 17 medals: five gold, five silver and seven bronze.
Sweden vs. Czechia players to watch
Sweden: Defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellika has nine points. Forward Otto Stenberg scored twice against Finland.
Czechia: Forward Jakub Stancl has a tournament-best six goals.
Sweden vs. Czechia lines
World juniors schedule
Dec. 26
Sweden 5, Slovakia 2
United States 10, Germany 4
Czechia 5, Switzerland 1
Canada 4, Finland 0
Dec. 27
Slovakia 2, Switzerland 1
Finland 3, Germany 1
Sweden 8, Kazakhstan 1
Latvia 3, Canada 2 (SO)
Dec. 28
Czechia 14, Kazakhstan 2
United States 5, Latvia 1
Dec. 29
Sweden 7, Switzerland 5
Finland 4, United States 3 (OT)
Czechia 4, Slovakia 2
Canada 3, Germany 0
Dec. 30
Slovakia 5, Kazakhstan 4 (OT)
Latvia 4, Germany 3 (OT)
Dec. 31
Switzerland 3, Kazakhstan 1
Finland 3, Latvia 0
Sweden 4, Czechia 2
United States 4, Canada 1
World juniors hockey playoff round
All times Eastern
Jan. 2 (quarterfinals)
Sweden 3, Latvia 2
United States 7, Switzerland 2
Finland 5, Slovakia 3
Czechia 4, Canada 3
Jan. 4
Finland 4, Sweden 3 (OT)
United States 4, Czechia 1
Jan. 5
Bronze-medal game: Sweden vs. Czechia, 3:30 p.m. ET, NHLN, TSN
Gold-medal game: USA vs. Finland, 7:30 p.m. ET, NHLN, TSN
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