U.S. National Junior Team Tops Slovakia, 6-2, Ahead of IIHF World Junior Championship

KINGSTON, Ontario – Ryan Leonard (Amherst, Mass./Boston College) had two goals and an assist, while Cole Hutson (North Barrington, Ill./Boston University) added three assists to help the U.S. National Junior Team to a 6-2 victory over Slovakia here tonight at Slush Puppie Placein pre-tournament action ahead of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.

The U.S. will play its second and final pre-tournament game on Monday (Dec. 23) in Cornwall, Ontario, at the Cornwall Civic Complex against Finland. Opening faceoff is set for 4 p.m. ET.

“It was good to get a game in as we continue to build for the official start of the World Juniors,” said David Carle, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team and also the head men’s ice hockey coach at the University of Denver. “I thought we certainly did some good things and this will help us as we continue to shape our team.”

Team USA had a 2-0 advantage after the opening 20 minutes. Austin Burnevik (Blaine, Minn./St. Cloud State University) opened the scoring when he put one home at 10:18 from the side of the left circle. Brandon Svoboda (Level Green, Pa./Boston University) and Logan Hensler (Woodbury, Minn./University of Wisconsin) drew assists on the play. Then, with just :12 left in the frame, Leonard wristed a laser from between the circles past Slovakian netminder Alan Lend’ Ak. Gabe Perreault (Hinsdale, Ill./Boston College) and Hutson earned assists on the goal. U.S. netminder Hampton Slukynsky (Warroad, Minn./Western Michigan University) was sharp, stopping all seven shots he faced.