Ryan Leonard and the Team USA world juniors hockey team punched their tickets to the gold medal game of the 2025 World Juniors after defeating Czechia in the semifinals on Saturday, January 4.
The Americans had a chance to secure back-to-back championships if they could defeat the one team that gave them trouble earlier in the tournament—five-time World Juniors gold medalist Finland—and they did.
Finland defeated USA 3-4 in overtime on December 29 in the preliminary round of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championships.
En route to the gold medal game, Finland’s lone loss in this year’s tournament was a routing by Canada, shutting out the Finns 0-4. They would move on toppling Sweden in the semifinals and Slovakia in the quarterfinals to earn their spot at the top.
Team USA and Finland took the ice one last time at the 2025 World Juniors in competition for the gold medal. This time, USA walked away with the win, earning the gold. Read the game recap below.
Read the game recap, scoring updates, and watch highlights of the Team USA vs. Finland World Juniors gold medal game on Jan. 5.
USA’s Teddy Stiga scored the game winner against Finland after 9 minutes of overtime, making a great move to defeat Rimpinen in net for the first time since the second period. It was his first goal of the 2025 IIHF World Juniors tournament.
TEDDY STIGA. GOLDEN GOAL.
USA goes back to back for the first time ever at the #WorldJuniors. What a game!!!!! pic.twitter.com/ZEVGLVcews
He made a quick move, receiving a pass from Zeev Buium to his backhand with speed and pressuring the net, before pulling the puck back to his forehand to sling it at the five-hole.
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Stay tuned for updates on 3-on-3 hockey for the gold medal at the 2025 IIHF World Juniors.
USA extended their bench quite a bit in the third period. Buium has played 24:48, Fortescue 23:49, Hutson 21:32. Have to imagine it will be rare one of those three isn’t on the ice during OT for USA’s blue line. Might see Minnetian a bit, too. We’ll see.
It was a scoreless third period for the two teams as they try to piece together enough to get it past these two star goalies. After a short 15-minute intermission, we’ll be back with a 20 minute overtime period of three-on-three hockey until the gold medal-winning goal is scored.
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Team USA all-time in overtime in the gold-medal game:
2-0
2010: John Carlson
2017: Troy Terry#WorldJuniors
6:58 left in regulation. Still 3-3. What a hockey game. #WorldJuniors
Cole Hutson IS the free bird. 🦅#WorldJuniors #WJC #IIHF #TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/SNDljpa4pR
It’s time for history to be made tonight in Ottawa at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Heading into the final period of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championships, USA caught Finland from a two-goal deficit in the final minutes of the second period.
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Defenseman Cole Hutson scored for USA with assists from Ryan Leonard and Zeev Buium to swing the momentum fully in the Americans’ favor heading into the second intermission after the lucky bounce goal.
Two goals for USA in under two minutes to bring the game back within reach heading into the third.
Need a big goal? BETTER CALL COLE (HUTSON)!
USA ties the game as the @USAHockeyNTDP alum buries another big one. It’s 3-3 after two.#WorldJuniors #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/dOmQYRZSJy
After what has been a very back-and-forth second period, Brandon Svoboda scored for the United States thanks to a shot that bounced off of Finnish defender Daniel Nieminen’s arm and past goalie Petteri Rimpinen.
Big Goal Brandon Svoboda! The @USHL alum and Sharks prospect gets USA back in it. It’s now 3-2 Finland. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/JxlRM5CmBi
Emil Pieniniemi, the Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick, gave the Finns a two-goal lead, making it 3-1 over USA just over three minutes into the second period. Heikki Ruohonen and Jesse Nurmi were credited with the assists.
USA and Finland started the second 20-minute period of their gold medal game in the IIHF World Junior Championship.
The Americans were left with an uphill climb after the first twenty minutes of the gold medal match-up against Finland in the 2025 WJC final game.
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The two got tied up as USA entered Finland’s zone. The two teams stayed at even strength.
Finland strikes back right away after the tying goal from USA. Tuomas Uronen took the puck into the USA zone solo and made a quick move to the outside to score the go-ahead goal.
Vegas prospect Tuomas Uronen with a laser makes it 2-1 Finland in the gold-medal game! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/c8YM3bsSDF
Ryan Leonard ➡️ James Hagens like it’s easy or something 😎#WorldJuniors #TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/Mt1wCnuUoA
After Finland has been hemming in Team USA for a majority of the first period, USA was able to turn up the pressure and get James Hagens into position to get the puck in the net on a second chance off of the rebound.
James Hagens! The 2025 #NHLDraft eligible knots up the score in the first period, but Finland just regained the lead. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/d4T6bnwMRT
Finland’s Jesse Kiiskinen ripped it past Trey Augustine to score the first goal of the game and make it six games in a row that he has scored. Leonard was called for interference while Halttunen was called for diving/embellishment.
Team USA’s Plante was called for hooking to force the first penalty kill for USA in this gold medal game. Finland has the 8th best power play unit of the tournament while USA is the 4th best penalty kill.
The last two remaining teams in the 2025 World Juniors are ready to battle it out for the gold medal in Ottawa. Stay tuned for live updates and goal highlights.
After an extended bronze medal match-up between Sweden and Czechia went to more than 14 rounds of shootout attempts, the gold medal game’s puck drop is likely to be delayed. We are uncertain of exact timing but are hearing it will likely start around 7:45 p.m. ET.
Read a write-up from FloHockey’s Chris Peters about USA goalie Trey Augustine after a historic performance in this year’s tournament.
“With three wins at this year’s WJC, Augustine became USA Hockey’s all-time wins leader among goalies at the World Junior Championship. The Michigan State standout surpassed fellow Michigan native Jack Campbell for sole possession of first on the all-time wins list with the 11th of his career.”
Click here to read the full article.
Mike Hrabel and Eduard Sale delivered for Czechia fans after what felt like an endless shootout to bring the bronze medal home and hand Sweden fourth place in the 2025 World Juniors.
Eduard Sale took five attempts and was able to get it past Marcus Gidlof three times, one of which hit the post and the last of which won them the bronze.
TONIGHT.
BIG GAME TREY vs. MR. SHOWTIME.#TeamUSA vs #Suomi#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/614rKsPaTt
Head Coach: David Carle
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Head Coach: Lauri Mikkola
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Team USA vs. Finland can be watched in the gold medal game on Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET NHL Network and TSN in the World Junior Championships.
The 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship will air on TSN and RDS television in Canada and be streamed on TSN+.
The start time for Team USA vs Finland 2025 IIHF World Juniors championship game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET in Ottawa at the Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday, January 5.
Sunday, Jan. 5
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FloHockey is providing comprehensive editorial and video coverage of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. With a team of content creators on site and leading WJC analyst Chris Peters providing stories and columns throughout the event, make FloHockey your home to learn more about the 2025 World Juniors. FloHockey will be following Team USA and Team Canada closely, while tracking the rest of the tournament on site. See all the stories here.
The 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship will air on TSN and RDS on television in Canada. The tournament will be streamed on TSN+ in Canada, as well.
In the United States, NHL Network will be the television home of the World Junior Championship.
FloHockey is the streaming home to some of the best hockey leagues in North America, including the AHL, ECHL and more. Check out the broadcast schedule to watch more hockey.
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