United States repeats as world junior hockey champion, defeating Finland in overtime

OTTAWA – A back-to-back hockey champion will represent the United States when Minnesota hosts the next World Junior Championship.

Teddy Stiga scored on an overtime breakaway Sunday, giving the United States a 4-3 victory over Finland and a second consecutive world juniors gold medal.

Stiga took an outlet pass from Wild draft pick Zeev Buium at the Finland blue line and broke in before slipping a shot under the pad of goalie Petteri Rimpinen for his first goal of the tournament.

The United States will go for three in a row in 2026 in Minnesota. The tournament will be played in Xcel Energy Center and at 3M Arena at Mariucci.

Cole Hutson had a goal and an assist, Ryan Leonard had two assists and Trey Augustine made 21 saves for the United States, which won back-to-back world juniors tournaments for the first time.

It is the seventh championship for the U.S. in the past 21 years (2004, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2021, 2024).

Finland dominated the first period Sunday and led 2-1, and it added to its lead on a goal by Emil Pieniniemi in the second period, before the United States pushed back.

Hutson tied it with with 29 seconds left in the second period, with a shot off the post after Leonard rushed the puck into the zone. Buium also got an assist.