Team USA 20u World juniors championship team holding up their second straight banner. photo by IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation)
The USA junior hockey team wins its second straight world junior hockey tournament.
Ten countries sent their best junior hockey players to Ottawa, Ontario, for the 49th Ice Hockey World Junior Tournament this winter, and the USA came out on top. For ten days, these teams were made up of the world’s best ice hockey players under the age of 20. All ten countries participating had at least one player on their team who was drafted by a National Hockey League (NHL) team. The dynastic USA roster is full of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) stars from top hockey schools from all over the country. With their star studded cast of young men, team USA routed their way to a second straight and seventh overall World Juniors Gold medal.
With NCAA studs, the USA team found themselves at the center of attention winning games left and right. The team was composed of some of the nation’s best young hockey players competing to show their skills to NHL teams and the world. Team USA played seven total games, winning five in regulation and having one overtime win and one over time loss. Coming out of Group A on top they were looking at a number two seed and some favorable matchups in the tournament. On their way to the gold medal they faced Switzerland in the first round and came out on top 7-2, making an easy advance to the second round. There they faced the three seed Czechia and found another victory 4-1. This would lead to the gold medal game against four seed Finland. The game was tight and ended up going into overtime. The Americans would edge out a victory in overtime 4-3 and win their second straight gold medal. This elite tournament performance was led by many Olympic, college and drafted NHL players. Many of them have a plethora of accolades from different tournaments. Including some representatives fromUniversity of Denver (DU).
Zeev Buium, the twelfth overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft, has always been a leader on the blue line. The DU sophomore defenseman is an incredibly decorated 19 year old. Winning two world Junior Gold medals with team USA, an NCAA championship with DU and being drafted in the top 15, he is a special player and one destined to have a great career for the Minnesota Wild and team USA. Behind the bench DU head coach David Carle coached the championship squad and brought another medal to the DU hockey community. Carle runs one of the best collegiate Ice Hockey teams in the nation and has led the Pioneers to two championships in the last three years. These two play an extremely important role in the team USA championship and have represented the Pioneers greatly.
With DU stars, Team USA has won their back to back World Junior Championship and it makes hockey fans wonder what’s in store for next year. With many players becoming too old or playing for their drafted teams, team USA will look drastically different next year. Can they get it done for a third year in a row and record their eighth World Juniors gold medal in the team’s history?
