USA powers past Sweden to earn WJHC gold
The United States defeated Sweden 6-2 on Friday to capture gold at the 2024 world juniors.
The championship is USA's sixth at the event and fifth since 2010. The Americans entered the tournament as heavy favorites and lived up to the hype with a perfect 7-0 record.
Sweden, which hosted the event, extended its championship drought to 12 years with the loss. Since winning gold in 2012, the Swedes have won five silvers and two bronzes. They also lost a gold-medal game on home soil to Finland in 2014.
The United States was in control for most of the game and opened the scoring on a goal from Gabe Perreault late in the first period. Otto Stenberg equalized in the second before Isaac Howard scored two for the Americans.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki brought Sweden within one with five seconds to play in the middle frame, but the momentum was short-lived as USA scored three unanswered goals in the third period. Zeev Buium netted the Americans' fourth goal of the game before a dagger from Ryan Leonard and an empty-netter from captain Rutger McGroarty.
Sweden entered the championship game with only eight goals allowed in the tournament. Hugo Havelid, who was recognized as the tournament's top goaltender after the loss, posted a .952 save percentage and 0.98 goals against average before taking on the high-powered American attack.
Next year's world juniors will take place in Ottawa.