For the second straight year, the USA claimed the gold medal in the World Junior Championships, beating Finland in the final.
Boston College forward Teddy Stiga starred for his nation, scoring the gold medal-winning goal at the 8:04 mark of overtime, which was in 3-on-3 format.
For the United States, it was payback against Finland, who had beaten them 4-3 in group play earlier in the tournament. They did so in comeback fashion, overcoming a 3-1 deficit to emerge with an overtime win.
Finland opened the scoring, thanks to Jesse Kiiskinen, who scored at the 7:13 mark. The United States responsed with a goal from James Hagens, who also plays for Boston College along with Stiga. However, Finland took a 3-1 lead with goals from Tuomas Uronen and Emil Pieniniemi.
The United States mounted a comeback with goals from another pair of local Boston Products; Brandon Svoboda and Cole Hutson of Boston University, to make it 3-3. That set up overtime, where Stiga etched himself into international hockey history with the golden goal.
American goaltender Trey Augustine helped the United States to a second consecutive gold medal win by making 21 saves, while his counterpart Petteri Rimpinen made 36 saves.
Three most impressive players from Team USA's Gold Medal victory over Finland in World Junior Championship
#1 Teddy Stiga
A second-round draft pick by the Nashville Predators in the 2024 NHL Draft, Stiga will have this special memory to take with him for the rest of his career.
He secured a gold medal for his country for the second consecutive year; it's also the first time that Team USA repeated.
#2 Trey Augustine
The future Detroit Red Wings goaltender has backstopped the United States to consecutive gold-medal victories.
He became the winningest American born goaltender in tournament history, with two gold medals and a bronze.
#3 Cole Hutson
A 2024 Draft selection by the Washington Capitals, Hutson tied the game at 3-3 for the USA in the waning seconds of the second period. He took a pass and weaved his way through the top of the slot before beating Rimpinen with a wicked wrister from the faceoff circle:
If Hutson can demonstrate this kind of offensive flair in his NHL career, the Capitals could prosper.