The star-studded American team lived up to its billing on Friday, winning the world junior hockey tournament with a dominating 6-2 victory over host Sweden in the championship game.
Team USA routs host Sweden to win world junior hockey tournament
The American team was unbeaten in the tournament with a squad that included six Minnesotans.
January 5, 2024 at 10:01PM
Isaac Howard scored twice for Team USA, which was unbeaten in the meeting of the world's top under-20 teams in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Gabe Perreault, Ryan Leonard, Zeev Buium and Rutger McGroarty (into an empty net) also scored for the U.S. team, which included six players from Minnesota.
Jonathan Lekkerimäki and Otto Stenberg had Sweden's goals. The team's captain was winger Liam Ohgren, the Wild's 2022 first-round pick.
U.S. goalie Trey Augustine had 24 saves and Swedish goalie Hugo Havelid had 20.
Czechia beat Finland 8-5 for the bronze medal.
The American team included Gophers Sam Rinzel (Chaska), Ryan Chesley (Mahtomedi), Oliver Moore (Mounds View) and Jimmy Snuggerud (Chaska); Bemidji State's Eric Pohlkamp (Brainerd); and Maple Grove's Danny Nelson, who plays at Notre Dame.
The gold medal was the sixth for the U.S., which was coached by Denver's David Carle.
Minnesota shot nearly 60% during a 20-8 start to erase a fresh loss to Nebraska, but guard/forward Taylor Woodson suffered a knee injury early in the game.
