The United States will try to make history and avenge its only loss at the 2025 world junior hockey championship when it faces Finland in Sunday’s gold-medal game in Ottawa (7:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network).
The defending champion Americans lost 4-3 in overtime to Finland in the third game of the preliminary round. They have been perfect since then, beating Canada, Switzerland (quarterfinals) and Czechia (semifinals) to reach the championship game. Finland has won five games in a row.
With one more win, the USA will become back-to-back champions for the first time in its history at the tournament. The Americans, who brought back 10 players and coach David Carle from last year’s team, had never before reached the final in the year after winning it all.
Sweden and Czechia will face each other in the bronze-medal game (3:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network).
Here’s what to know about the medal round of the world junior hockey championship:
The United States and Finland will play for gold at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. Sweden and Czechia will play for bronze at 3:30.
Both games will be shown on NHL Network in the United States and on TSN in Canada.
Fubo and Sling carry NHL Network in the United States.
Sweden has the second-best power play in the tournament. They generate two shots, but Czechia kills the penalty.
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.
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.
All times p.m. ET
Sweden vs. Czechia, 3:30
United States vs. Finland, 7:30
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.
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.
The USA has won six goal medals: 2004, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2021 and 2024.
Finland has won five gold medals: 1987, 1998, 2014, 2016 and 2019.
The USA has won 15 medals: six gold, two silver and seven bronze.
Finland has won 17 medals: five gold, five silver and seven bronze.
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.
Dec. 26
Dec. 27
Dec. 28
Dec. 29
Dec. 30
Dec. 31
All times Eastern
Jan. 2 (quarterfinals)
Jan. 4
Jan. 5
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