Another classic chapter was written in the Canada-USA rivalry at the 2025 World Juniors on New Year’s Eve, with the Americans ultimately taking a decisive 4-1 victory to secure first place in Group A. 1 The US power play proved to be the difference maker, striking three times with goals from Hutson, Nelson, and Eiserman, while goaltender Augustine stood tall with a 28-save performance. Canada’s struggles with discipline and even-strength scoring continued, as they surrendered seven power plays and could only muster a single power-play goal from Nadeau. The result sees the USA advance to a quarterfinal matchup against Switzerland, while Canada falls to third in the group and will face a tough Czechia team.
2024 Washington Capitals second rounder Cole Hutson makes it a 1-0 game for the Americans when he scores at 13:02 of the first period with the assist on the goal going to his Boston University team mate Cole Eiserman.– Hutson puts the Americans on the board! A beautiful shot, ringing off the post and past George. That power play unit for the US has been lethal all tournament, and they connect again. Not a ton of bodies in front, but George’s shutout streak comes to an end. 1-0 USA, 6:58 to go in the first.
Shots on goal in the first period were 11-5 for Canada
Shots on goal in the second period were 15-13 for Canada.
Bradley Nadeau got the Canadians on the board at 1:58 of the third period with the assists on the goal going to Brayden Yager and Tanner Molendyk.– And just as the power play was expiring, Canada strikes! Yager feeds Nadeau at the faceoff circle, and he absolutely wires it past the netminder. No chance. The Hurricanes draft pick ties things up just two minutes into the final frame.
Danny Nelson gave the Americans the lead at 4:22 on the Power Play to make it a 2-1 Team USA game. The assists on the goal went to Cole Hutson and Trevor Connelly.-The US answers right back! That power play is just humming. Hutson with some slick moves down low, feeds Nelson in the high slot, and he roofs it over George’s blocker. Just like that, the Americans are back in front. 15:38 left on the clock.
Cole Eiserman gives the Americans a 3-1 lead at 13:21 of the third period with the assist on the goal going to University of Denver’s Zeev Buium.–Eiserman buries it! A laser beam to the far corner, and the US has a two-goal cushion. He’s been absolutely lighting it up this whole tournament, and he delivers another huge goal here late in the third. Canada can’t stay out of the box, and it’s costing them. 3-1 USA, 6:39 to go.
2023 Washington Capitals first rounder Ryan Leonard fires it into the empty net for Team USA unassisted at 18:08 to make it a 4-1 game for the Americans.
Shots on goal in the third period were 13-10 for the Canadians. Canada outshot Team USA 39-28 in the game.
For Team USA Trey Augustine made 38 saves on the 39 shots that he faced for the win. For the Canadians Carter George stopped 24 of the 27 shots that he faced.
Canada’s next game is Thursday January 2nd against Czechia for the quarter finals.
