January 4, 2024 18:46 • Last updated: January 4, 2024 19:19
Team USA’s Kutter Gauthier, 19, scores the winning goal against Finland against teammates Lane Hutson, 20, and Rutger during the third period semifinal game of the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Gothenburg.・Celebrating with McGroarty (2 years old) and Gavin Brindley (4 years old). Sweden, Thursday, January 4, 2024. (Christine Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Team USA’s Ryan Leonard, 9, stands in front of Finnish goaltender Niklas Kokko, 30, during the second period of the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship semifinals in Gothenburg, Sweden, on Thursday. celebrating a goal by teammate Jimmy Snageld (not pictured). January 4, 2024. (Christine Muschi/Canadian Press, via AP)
GOTHENBURG, Sweden — The United States will face host Sweden for the gold medal at the IIHF World Junior Championship.
The United States advanced to the finals with a 3-2 victory over Finland on Thursday when Cutter Gauthier scored on a power play with 3:13 left in the third period. The Philadelphia Flyers’ promising goal came after the Americans had erased a two-goal deficit in the semifinals.
“I’m proud of our players,” U.S. coach David Karl said. “Even though we were behind, it didn’t bother me in the first period and there was no panic in the room. Our special teams and goaltending were great and we had a great opportunity to play for the gold. I’m excited to get this.”
Jimmy Snageld, a 2022 first-round pick of the St. Louis Blues, and Will Smith, a 2023 No. 4 pick of the San Jose Sharks, scored the game-winning goals. Detroit Red Wings prospect Trey Augustin made 19 saves in net to send the United States back to the World Junior Finals on Friday.
Sweden qualified by beating the Czech Republic 5-2, led by Jonathan Lekkerimäki, who scored twice, including the opening goal.
“It’s going to be a really fun match,” Lekkerimäki said of the gold medal match. “Very excited.”
The United States lost to Sweden in the 2022 Under-18 World Championship, but the players in that age group got some revenge in the 2023 rematch.
“They ripped the gold medal from our necks,” Gauthier said of the U-18 loss. “We remember it like it was yesterday.”
U.S. captain Rutger McGroarty, also a player born in 2004 whose 2022 status is wrong, faced jeers at the Scandinavian Arena from a partisan crowd, including many Canadians, rooting for the Swedes. I am prepared for this.
“Who doesn’t like being the bad guy,” the Winnipeg Jets prospect said. “We’re going to be the bad guys and win gold on our home turf.”
On Friday, the Finns and Czechs will compete for the bronze medal. The United States is aiming for its first gold medal in the under-20 competition since 2021.
Canada, who won the tournament for the second time in a row, lost to the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals.