USA downs rival Canada, wins group at world juniors hockey tournament

The United States won the world junior hockey championship near the beginning of the 2024 calendar year.

It took a big step toward a repeat by beating rival Canada 4-1 on the final day of 2024 to claim the top seed in its group at the under-20 tournament that features hockey's top drafted and draft-eligible players.

The USA, which has never won back-to-back titles, will face Switzerland (2:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network) in Thursday's quarterfinals. Canada dropped to third place and will face Czechia. Sweden-Latvia and Finland-Slovakia are the other quarterfinals.

The Americans took advantage of Canada's undisciplined play to score three power-play goals. Boston University defenseman Cole Hutson, a Washington Capitals draft pick and brother of Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, had a goal and an assist to take the U.S. scoring lead with eight points.

The United States went with Trey Augustine in net and he rewarded the decision with a 38-save victory after he had given up eight goals over his first two games.

Highlights from the U.S. win against Canada at the world junior hockey championship:

Canada pulls goalie, Ryan Leonard scores

Canada needs to get to overtime to avoid finishing third so it has pulled goalie Carter George for an extra skater with minutes left. USA captain Ryan Leonard scores into the empty net after a Canada turnover to make it 4-1.

Cole Eiserman gives USA two-goal cushion

Canada is getting undisciplined and taking unnecessary penalties. Cole Eiserman makes the Canadians pay with a wrist shot from the top of the right faceoff circle for a 3-1 USA lead. Every goal in this game has been scored on the power play.

USA connects on power play, goes ahead

The Americans get their second power-play goal of the game. Cole Hutson takes the puck behind the net and passes to Danny Nelson, who scores from the slot for a 2-1 lead.

Canada ties the game on the power play

Bradly Nadeau scores on a one-timer with two seconds left in a Ryan Leonard penalty. Brayden Yager finds Nadeau with a nice seam pass.

End of second period: USA 1, Canada 0

The Americans can't capitalize on three power plays and now will be short-handed at the start of the third when captain Ryan Leonard is called for roughing at time runs out in the period. U.S. goalie Trey Augustine has made 27 saves.

USA on power play again

Canada has killed off the last two U.S. power plays but needs to be more disciplined. Sam Dickinson is called for holding. Canada kills if off and rides the momentum with a flurry in the U.S. end.

USA back on power play

Carson Rehkopf gets a second consecutive penalty, this time for tripping Zeev Buium. Canada kills this off, too. Still 1-0 USA.

USA goes on power play

Canada's Carson Rehkopf knocked Trey Augustine's dropped goalie stick away from him and is called for interference. Canada kills it off. USA moves it around well but gets only one shot.

USA goal waved off

Gabe Perreault appears to score, but it's waved off because James Hagens knocked the puck out of the air with a high stick.

Canada goes on power play

USA's Logan Hensler is called for holding. Canada goes on its first power play of the game. Goalie Trey Augustine has to come up big in close to kill off the penalty.

End of first period: USA 1, Canada 0

Cole Hutson scores at 13:02 for the lone goal of the first period. After Cole Eiserman tips a Canadian clearing attempt on a power play, Hutson beats a defender to the puck, skates in and rips a shot past Carter George. It was the first goal allowed by George in the tournament. Hutson leads U.S. scorers with seven points.

The USA went with Trey Augustine in net and he has shut down Canada through one period with 11 saves.

Today's world juniors hockey results

• Switzerland 3, Kazakhstan 1 Switzerland clinches a quarterfinal berth. Kazakhstan will play Germany in a relegation game at 11 a.m. ET Thursday

• Finland 3, Latvia 0

• Sweden 4, Czechia 2 Sweden wins Group B

• United States 4, Canada 1 USA wins Group A

World juniors hockey playoff round

All times Eastern

Jan. 2

• Sweden vs. Latvia, noon, NHLN, TSN

• United States vs. Switzerland, 2:30, NHLN, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5

• Finland vs. Slovakia, 5, NHLN, TSN

• Czechia vs. Canada, 7:30, NHLN, TSN

Jan. 4

• Semifinal 1 3:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN

• Semifinal 2 7:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN

Jan. 5

• Third-place game, 3:30, NHLN, TSN

• Championship game, 7:30, NHLN, TSN

When is USA vs. Canada world juniors hockey game?

The USA and Canada will play at 8 p.m. ET at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.

How to watch USA vs. Canada world juniors hockey game

The game will be aired on NHL Network in the United States and on TSN in Canada.

USA vs. Canada players to watch

USA: James Hagens, the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL draft, leads the Americans with six points. He plays on a line with Boston College teammates Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault. Defenseman Cole Hutson also has six points. He's the brother of Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson. Michigan State's Trey Augustine (1-0-1) is getting the start against Canada.

Canada: Canada has no scorer in the top 25 at the tournament. Easton Cowan leads the team with three points. Gavin McKenna (one goal) is the early front-runner for the 2026 draft. Goalie Carter George has two shutouts.

World juniors hockey scores

Dec. 26

• Sweden 5, Slovakia 2

• United States 10, Germany 4

• Czechia 5, Switzerland 1

• Canada 4, Finland 0

Dec. 27

• Slovakia 2, Switzerland 1

• Finland 3, Germany 1

• Sweden 8, Kazakhstan 1

• Latvia 3, Canada 2 (SO)

Dec. 28

• Czechia 14, Kazakhstan 2

• United States 5, Latvia 1

Dec. 29

• Sweden 7, Switzerland 5

• Finland 4, United States 3 (OT)

• Czechia 4, Slovakia 2

• Canada 3, Germany 0

Dec. 30

• Slovakia 5, Kazakhstan 4 (OT)

• Latvia 4, Germany 3 (OT)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World juniors hockey highlights: USA downs Canada, wins group