Three OHL Players Win Gold With USA At The 2025 World Junior Championship; Five OHL Finnish Players Earn Silver

The Americans are back-to-back World Junior Champions for the first time in history. They narrowly edged past the pesky Fins in the gold medal game to win the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Nashville Predators prospect Teddy Stiga waited until the absolute perfect time to score his first goal of the tournament, blazing down the ice and sliding the puck fivehole to give the USA a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory.

The United States exacted sweet revenge on Finland. After losing 4-3 in overtime to Finland during the preliminary round, they also suffered defeat against them in the gold medal match of the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Alas, the Americans battled back from a 3-1 deficit in the second period to take home the gold medal.

Team USA had three OHL players on their roster, who will return to their junior teams with a shiny new gold medal.

Related: North Bay And Barrie Swap Players In Blockbuster Trade

Erie Otters captain and Anaheim Ducks prospect Carey Terrance was the only one of the three who played in every game for his country, recording two goals in seven games. He played an important two-way, 200-foot centerman role for their third line.

Saginaw Spirit forward and Nashville Predators prospect Joey Willis played in the USA’s first two games of the tournament but ended up as a scratch for the next five games. He had two assists in two games.

Barrie Colts netminder Sam Hillebrandt was on the roster as the third-string goalie but still gets awarded a gold medal.

The five Finnish OHL players — Kasper Halttunen, Jesse Nurmi, Emil Hemming, Tuomas Uronen, and Emil Pieniniemi — unfortunately came away with a devastating silver medal finish.

However, credit to the Fins. After they lost their tournament opener 4-0 to Canada, they rattled off five straight wins to play themselves into the gold medal game. Kingston Frontenacs Uronen and Pieniniemi performed remarkably well all tournament.

Related: A Disastrous World Junior Championship From Canada Ends In The Quarterfinals; Head Coach Dave Cameron & Easton Cowan At The Front Of Ridicule

Earlier in the day, Czechia defeated Sweden in the bronze medal game, concluding with a thrilling finish after a dramatic 14-round shootout.

Czech OHL players Adam Zidlicky, Jakub Fibigr, and Adam Jiricek earn a bronze medal.

Bookmark The Hockey News OHL site to never miss news, interviews, and any updates around the league.