Isaac Howard scored twice to lead the United States past host Sweden 6-2 to take home gold at this year’s World Junior Championship, an under-20 event that is becoming increasingly important to NHL scouts.
USA Hockey announced on Friday that Minnesota will host the 2025-26 international tournament, featuring both Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul and 3M Arena at Mariucci on the University of Minnesota campus as competition sites.
USA Goals
Cutter Gauthier of the Philadelphia Flyers tied Noah Ostlund for team goals scored, scoring 12 over seven games to finish tied at 12th place and collecting five assists as he posted a plus-5 rating throughout competition. Denver Alum Cutter Gauthier made his tournament debut during their semifinal win over Finland with four starts overall before finally bowing out against Finland at the tournament finals. Detroit Red Wings goaltender Trey Augustine proved strong in goal with 1.75 GAA and.936 save percentage in four starts overall.
Lane Hutson of the San Jose Sharks, Axel Sandin Pellikka of Detroit Red Wings and Theo Lindstein (St. Louis Blues) all stood out for Team USA during this tournament, averaging more than 19 minutes per game on defense for each. Hutson led U.S. defensemen with five points in seven games while leading all defenders in face-off wins (31/64), while Lindstein came in second overall with nine points overall; Jon Lekkerimaki of Vancouver Canucks and Tom Willander from Boston University Hockey East each scored one goal and finished with three points overall during this tournament.
Goaltending
After their 2022 gold-medal game against Sweden, USA players were eager for payback in 2024. Hudson, Wisconsin native Isaac Howard broke a one-all tie midway through the second period with an exceptional play that outwitted one Swedish defenseman before sending an impressive shot past Havelid’s pads and into goal.
Cutter Gauthier of the San Jose Sharks and Boston College star Ryan Leonard of Washington Capitals scored goals to put America in control in the third period. Spencer Knight (Florida Panthers), an eighth-round pick this year, made 19 saves in goal to help defend American victory.
Finland surrendered a 5-2 lead late in the third period and were eliminated with a 4-3 loss against Czechia, with Oiva Keskinen of Detroit Red Wings’ Oiva Keskinen scoring once as they couldn’t overcome Czechia’s late comeback. That defeat sent Sweden through to their 12th bronze-medal game since 2013 but that wasn’t too distressful, since their history shows they struggle when the round-robin period ends and knockout rounds begin.
Special Teams
Over two years ago, USA 2004 age group hockey players discussed getting revenge against Sweden and goaltender Hugo Havelid for their loss in the gold-medal game at under-18 worlds in 2010. On Thursday evening they did just that.
Cutter Gauthier scored the opening goal on a power play by deftly dodging off an opponent and firing past Havelid’s pads. Will Smith of Boston College and Detroit Red Wings prospect Trey Augustine from Michigan State were both instrumental in setting the U.S. team in motion.
Gavin Brindley scored both power-play and even-strength goals for the Americans while Michigan Wolverines teammates Seamus Casey and Frank Nazar III each provided assists.
Isaac Howard scored his second goal after being sent on a breakaway by Otto Stenberg to give Lightning first-rounder Isaac Howard another opportunity in the slot all tournament, showing off his speed, quickness, and ability to make smart decisions with the puck.
Defense
Defense on this team is strong when they don’t make mistakes, with depth among speed, tenacity and size to lead the charge – led by Cutter Gauthier (Philadelphia Flyers first-round pick) and Jimmy Snuggerud (Minnesota Wild).
USA opened up scoring early in the second period with a brilliant move by Isaac Howard of Boston College, sneaking behind their defense and slotting the pass between Hugo Havelid’s legs for an unassisted goal.
Ryan Leonard (Amherst, Mass./Boston College/2024 Washington Capitals draft eligible) displayed impressive skills during the third period. The Pope Francis product outwitted two Swedish defenders before deflecting one past Havelid for his goal and scoring twice on the night.
At 1:19 in the third period, Zeev Buium (San Diego, Calif./Denver University/2024 NHL Draft eligible) won a faceoff in the offensive zone and assisted Howard for an one-timer that beat Havelid’s blocker to seal victory for USA. Trey Augustine (South Lyon, Mich./Michigan State/Detroit Red Wings) finished up by making 24 saves to secure this win for USA.
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