OTTAWA – The United States sits one win from history. Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard had a goal and an assist each as the Americans beat Czechia 4-1 on Saturday to advance to the gold-medal game at the World Junior Hockey Championship.
Cole Eiserman and Oliver Moore, who scored in the empty net, also added goals for the U.S. Trey Augustine made 26 saves to secure the victory, setting up a championship clash against Finland, who defeated Sweden 4-3 in overtime during the other semifinal.
This marks the third time in the last five years the Americans have reached the final, having won gold against Sweden last year and Canada the year before. Yet, the U.S. has never claimed back-to-back gold medals, with this final presenting them with not only the opportunity for another title but also the chance to make history.
Perreault opened the scoring for the U.S. at the 3:14 mark of the first period with his third goal of the tournament. The joy was short-lived for the Americans, as Jakub Stancl tied the game for Czechia at 9:28, marking his sixth goal of the tournament. Despite being outshot 27-25, the U.S. responded aggressively.
The second period began with fireworks when Eiserman fired home his third goal at 13:41, putting the Americans back on top. Trey Augustine proved pivotal between the pipes, making key saves, particularly against Adam Jecho, who nearly tied the game with under 12 minutes to go.
Leonard followed up Eiserman’s goal with another, thanks to Perreault’s clever setup at 15:33 of the third period, solidifying the U.S. lead. Moore then sealed the game with an empty-netter, clinching the win at 18:53.
Following the loss, Czechia will now play Sweden for bronze on Sunday, which they will find as solace after being eliminated from the gold medal contention.
Meanwhile, Finland secured their spot after edging past their Nordic rivals, Sweden, with Benjamin Rautiainen’s overtime goal at 9:22, clinching their win on the power play. Coach Lauri Mikkola praised his players' efforts, noting their resilience throughout the tournament.
Rautiainen, who demonstrated skill, managed to surprise Swedish goaltender Melker Thelin with his shot, showcasing the unpredictable nature of his game. The Finnish team consists of experienced players like Emil Hemming, Jesse Kiiskinen, and Arttu Alasiurua—who provided the offensive strength necessary for the victory over Sweden.
This final showdown will be particularly poignant as Finland previously defeated the U.S. 4-3 in overtime during the preliminary round, signaling their capability to upset their rivals once again.
The U.S. team, guided by the hopes of repeated success, will look to build on their past achievements. They have won six World Junior titles, with last victories in both 2021 and 2024. A chance at consecutive wins will require focused effort against the well-prepared Finns.
“We want to reset as much as we can to prepare for the big game,” stated one of the U.S. players post-match.
The championship game is set to take place at 3:00 PM ET on Sunday at the Canadian Tire Centre. Fans will be on the edge of their seats, anticipating what promises to be an electrifying matchup between these two hockey powerhouses.