Team USA’s boys hockey team won gold at the National Junior Hockey Championship on Jan. 5 in Ottawa, Canada.
The boys beat Finland 4-3 in overtime, with forward Teddy Stiga scoring the game-winning goal. Team USA has medaled in eight of the last 10 world junior hockey championship games, with this tournament being the second year in a row that they have received gold.
“It is cool that this is a back-to-back win because it is not all that common for teams to do that,” Kaden Wiebe, junior hockey fan, said.
The team huddled in a circle on one knee in the locker room after the game, where Captain Ryan Leonard, forward, led them through their well-known victory chant.
“The chant is extremely powerful and it encompasses the teams’ camaraderie and their pride in the sport,” Luke Zawadzki, junior hockey fan, said.
This tournament led to accomplishments like Cole Hutson being the first defenseman to lead a World Junior Hockey tournament in points. Hutson was picked 43rd overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2024 National Hockey League (NHL) draft.
Leonard was named the tournament MVP and received the directorate award as the best forward in the World Juniors. The directorate award is selected and given to the best goalie, defender and forward for each tournament.
Trey Augustine, goaltender, played in three World Junior tournaments and is finishing with 12 wins, which is the most ever by an American netminder.
“It is incredibly exciting to see kids my age winning gold medals,” Zawadzki said. “It truly emphasizes how you can achieve anything with enough dedication and commitment.”
Many hockey teams, both national and minor leagues, have paid tribute to the Gaudreau brothers who passed away last year. Johnny Gaudreau had previously played for Team USA in 2013 and won gold. Team USA had a locker in the corner of the room with Gaudreau’s jersey hung up, dedicated to preserving him and his brother’s legacy.
“I think it is good these tributes are being made for the brothers because it honors the people they were and how amazing they were at the sport,” Alexandra Fazzino, junior hockey fan, said.
The 2026 tournament will mark the 50th anniversary of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship. It will be held in Xcel Energy Center, which is the home of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild and 3M Arena on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis.
“Hockey is one of the most unique sports to play, especially in Florida. It requires great agility, thinking and teamwork in order to be successful,” Zawadzki said.
