United States defends its World Juniors title against Finland

It was a thrilling end to the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship on Sunday as the United States defeated Finland in overtime to win its second consecutive gold medal.

Finland was the only team to win a match against the US at this year's event, but the Finns were unable to match their preliminary round victory while attempting to dethrone the defending champions.

Finland opened the scoring after Jesse Kiiskinen got the puck in front of the net and fired a shot past Trey Augustine.

The Finns' lead was short-lived after a failed attempt to clear the puck in their zone was intercepted by the Americans.

The US then fired the puck and it was stopped, but James Hagens nabbed the rebound and evened the score.

James Hagens with a snipe!😱Shocker... It's a tie game! @usahockey #USAFIN #WorldJuniors #IIHF pic.twitter.com/hbTV9pM6WO

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) January 6, 2025

A little more than a minute later, Tuomas Uronen got the puck in the neutral zone and beat a US defenceman before making it a 2-1 match.

The Finns added another score early in the second period and had momentum for much of the middle frame before an unlucky deflection made it a one-score game.

USA IS BACK IN IT 👀

Brandon Svoboda's shot hits a Finnish player in front and trickles in.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/XMxlYgB2k9

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 6, 2025

The Americans continued to press the Finns and tied the game in the final seconds of the middle period.

Neither team was able to score in the third period and for the second time at this year’s event the US and Finland needed overtime to decide a winner.

Finland’s goalie Petteri Rimpinen made several big saves in the extra frame before Teddy Stiga got the puck on a breakaway and won the US the gold medal.

Teddy Stiga, the golden goal belongs to you! 🥇#USAFIN #WorldJuniors #IIHF @usahockey pic.twitter.com/o9kNXQsmhu

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) January 6, 2025

Ryan Leonard, Team USA’s captain, was named the MVP of the tournament after notching five goals and five assists at the event.

13 and 21 with us every step of the way. ❤️ #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/Ct7WKUr0w2

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) January 6, 2025