The United States took advantage of undisciplined play by Canada to win the last game of 2024 by a 4-1 score. All goals came on the power play except the last, from captain Ryan Leonard into the empty net.

Cole Hutson had a goal and assist for the Americans and goalie Trey Augustine was sensational, stopping 38 of 39 shots from Canada.

This was the 50th World Junior Championship game between North America's finest U20s, and it proved to be another tense and physical chapter in the ongoing history of a thrilling rivalry. The game was played in front of a sold-out crowd at Canadian Tire Centre in an electric atmosphere befitting the occasion of New Year’s Eve.

"We stuck to our game plan," said American defender Zeev Buium. "We had some tough conversations yesterday, looked at ourselves in the mirror. We were taking long shifts, letting guys get behind us, little things we had to clean up. We all bought into it. The coach's message was simple--use the emotion but don't be emotional. I thought we handled it really well."

"Frustrating," offered 17-year-old Canadian Gavin McKenna, who was one of the few bright spots on the team tonight. "We took ourselves out of it with all the penalties. We dominated five-on-five, so if we stayed out of the box, it's probably our game. We took some dumb penalties. The atmosphere was electric, but it's disappointing we couldn't do it for the fans."

The Americans finish in first place in Group A and will now face Switzerland in the quarter-finals on Thursday. Canada finishes in third and will play Czechia.

 

The Americans had seven power plays and a total of 11:40 time five-on-four while the Canadians had three power plays and 5:58 with the extra man. Canada's ten goals in the preliminary round is their second fewest ever. Only in 1998 and 2000, when they had nine, have they been less successful at scoring in the preliminary round.

"It was huge to get that win," added American Gabe Perreault. "It was an unreal game, a lot of fun. We wanted to keep it simple, and I think we did well. We definitely got momentum off special teams tonight. We had some power plays that worked, and then when we took a penalty, Trey was unbelievable on the kill."

Although shots favoured Canada, 11-5, in the opening period, the scoreboard told a truer story. The Americans scored the only goal, on a power play, at 13:02, when Hutson came off the wall with the puck and snapped a shot to the far side, beating Carter George cleanly.

Hutson had the game’s first great scoring chance earlier, barrelling around Brayden Yager and hitting the post with a shot. Later in the period, defender Colin Ralph also hit the post, narrowly missing giving his team a 2-0 lead.

Canada’s best opportunity didn’t even result in a shot. Taking the puck down the left side on an odd-man rush, Calum Ritchie turned and teed the puck up for trailer Cole Beaudoin. He blasted a shot well wide.

In the second period Canada again held a shots advantage, 15-13, and this time it very much reflected superior play. But beyond the shots in this goalless second, Canada’s “snake-bit” offence could be divided into three categories—they shot wide; they passed when they should have shot; Augustine was sensational. To wit, Canada’s best chance saw McKenna move into the slot with time, but he shot well wide.

At the other end, the Americans also suffered from “shoot-wide-itis,” creating many fine opportunities only to rifle the puck off-target. George, too, however, was excellent when he had to be. Canada dominated the first half of the period and could easily have scored two or three—but didn’t—but once the midway point hit undisciplined play led to three Canadian penalties in a row, much to the dismay of the partisan crowd.

This stunted Canada’s momentum, but the Americans also failed to capitalize on situations they could have exploited to increase their lead. 

At the end of the period the Canadians goaded Ryan Leonard into a roughing penalty, so they started the third with a power play. It looked harmless for almost its entirety, and then just before it expired, they finally struck. Yager made a back-door pass to Bradly Nadeau, and his one-timer beat Augustine, who couldn't get over in time.

But no sooner had they scored than they incurred another penalty, and it cost them. Hutson took the puck behind the net and spotted Danny Nelson in front, and his quick shot beat George over the blocker to restore the U.S. lead, 2-1.

Once again, Canada had a chance to tie when McKenna skated to the middle unscathed, but this time his shot rang loud and clear off the iron. Not to be outdone, Leonard nailed one off the post at the other end as well.

But Canada kept on taking penalties, and another cost them midway through the third when Cole Eiserman snapped a winner from the slot to give the Americans a commanding 3-1 lead at 13:21. Leonard added an empty netter, and the Americans left the ice for the last time in 2024 full of joy.