Team USA played World Junior Championships host Sweden Friday in the Gold Medal game in Gothenburg. It was a hard-fought, chippy game that featured end-to-end hockey but in the end, a fast and deep Team USA secured their sixth World Junior Championship with an overpowering third-period performance, en route to a 6-2 championship-game victory.
The teams played even to start the game. Seven minutes into the first period, the Americans were called for a high stick but killed off the two-minute penalty. The US struck first, following a delayed penalty on Sweden when BC’s Gabe Perreault tapped in a goal off a shot from college teammate Will Smith. DU exited the period up 1-0 with a 10-7 shot advantage.
Early in the second period the Swedes carried the pace of play and countered with their own tip-in by Otto Stenberg at 2:20, 1-1. Ten minutes into the period, the USA’s speed was on display when Michigan State’s Isaac Howard went on a breakaway and beat goaltender Hugo Havelid, 2-1. With six minutes remaining, Michigan State’s Isaac Howard got his second goal of the game off a deflection after a long cycle behind the Swedes’ goal, 3-1. Near the end of the second period, the USA was called for a penalty and the Swedes went on the power play. Jonathan Lekkerimaki scored on a one-timer from the high point with only five seconds left to end the period, 3-2.
The final twenty minutes did not disappoint as the two teams battled for gold. Under two minutes into the frame, a faceoff win and one-timer by DU’s Zeev Buium whistled past the Swedish keeper Havelid for a two-goal US lead. A 4:00 double minor for high sticking on Sweden at 13:03 allowed the USA to put the game away but the Yanks could not find twine. BC’s Ryan Leonard gave the US a 5-2 lead on a puck race down the ice and a goal. An empty net goal by Michigan’s Rutger McGroarty at 3:10 turned the game into a coronation.
The game ended with players in the penalty box with half a minute left after fists flew from both teams. The USA skated out the final score, 6-2, earning David Carle the gold medal in his first-ever WJC behind the bench and Zeev Buium a gold medal in what may be the first of two appearances in the U-20 tournament.
Great win by the USA and coach Carle
Big accomplishment! Congrats to Coach Carle and Zeev Buium. Very proud as a DU alum!
I think the key to this game was Buium’s goal early in the third period to make it 4-2 USA. Sweden had the momentum in the game after the PPG late in the second period, and had the game stayed 3-2, you know Sweden, with 12,000 fans in the house, would have had a good shot to tie it up and perhaps win it. But Buium, who just turned 18 less than a month ago, created a statement goal to let Sweden know that the US was playing to win and not to just survive. After that Buium goal, Sweden was not able to generate much sustained offensive pressure, and the US no longer had to gamble by putting its defense into the offense – just had to manage pucks.
Congrats to Coach Carle for making all the right moves. His team played with fire and depth, and they will walk together as champions forever…
?Will we lose our very young and talented head hockey COACH CARLE to the pro ranks like the last one to Dallas/ Boston?
Carle is signed through 2027 but could still be poached. I think the only reason he would leave would be for a solid NHL job. There are some advantages to running your own college program but Carle is definitely gaining greater notoriety and success in the hockey world.
It will probably take about a month for the ear-to-ear grin to leave my face. Damn that was fun!
What a tournament, what a team, what a run for Team USA! The WJC is always one of my favorite events of the year, and this one, of course, was extra special. I watched all of the USA games, and it was a blast watching this team come together and win a gold medal. Clearly Team USA had a ton of elite talent and, on paper at least, was the favorite. That said, it takes more than talent to win this type of tournament. Guys have to develop chemistry, know their roles, check their egos, and play as a team. All of that has to happen over a very short period of time. And it doesn’t happen without strong leadership and coaches who know how to make it happen. So proud of Coach Carle for leading this team the way he did!!!!
Dunker thinks it was big that USA never had to play from behind in front of a wild Sweden crowd. The game was almost as tense as a DU game in the NCAA Tournament. I agree Buium goal was huge. Zeev swallowed his ego and played mostly straight defense in this tournament because we were so talented up front.
What a win, fantastic for Carle and the USA. Happy about this result. But I care more about DU hockey than USA hockey. I’m sure I’m not alone amongst DU fans wondering whether this great result for USA will mean Carle leaves for NHL a couple years earlier than he would otherwise. If he does, so be it. But I hope he wins that championship #10 for DU, and then stays for at least a couple more years after that.
John Polli
No way Dave leaves for N.H.L simply because he will not get any offers. The N H L is a different animal from college hockey. The business and management demands are hugely more complex. Dave’s not ready for that. He will be ,because he’s a bright young man but not now. Dave is good to go for us Pios for at least another three years. then he will enter the 30’s and will start to appeal to the big leagues. No question he will definitely end up there but for now let’s back off on our exuberance.
If you want to watch out for someone leaving early ,our 18 year old Biuim is someone to worry about. No problem for next year but this young man is something special..