I think everyone figured this would be the gold medal game at the start of the tournament The two sides are both undefeated heading into the last game of the tournament. The U.S. has won 11 of its 16 appearances all-time in the gold-medal game, including last year in 2023, when it beat Sweden, 3-2 in overtime, to clinch the top spot on the podium.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native Christian Humphreys sneaks one by Carter George with under a minute remaining in the first period to make it 1-0 USA at 19:08. The assists on the goal went to Wisconsin commit and 2025 draft prospect Logan Hensler and Trevor Connelly.
Shots on goal in the first period were 12-6 for Team USA
Ryder Ritchie ties it up at 5:31 of the second period with the assists going to the first overall pick in the 2023 OHL draft Matthew Schaefer and Henry Mews.
Cole Eiserman makes it 2-1 for the Americans and sets a new record for American goal scorers. The goal was assisted by Cole Hutson at 8:31 of the second while the Americans were on the Power Play. It seems that in all these International tournaments records seem to be getting broken all the time. Not saying its related but have you noticed they all started getting broken once they stopped allowing Russia to participate.
Cole Hutson makes it a 3-1 game for the Americans at 13:06 of the second period with the assist on the goal going to St. Louis, Missouri native Shane Vansaghi.
Gavin McKenna scores for Canada on the Power Play at 15:40 of the second frame with the assists going to Tij Iginla and Henry Mews.
Carter George got a penalty which was an utter crap call towards the end of the second which Canada killed off.
Shots on goal in the second period were 19-5 for the Americans
Trevor Connelly got a 5 Minute Major and a game misconduct for head contact on a hit to Ryder Ritchie. This is what really changed the game and huge. I mean it was a hit to the head but in all reality a 2 would of done. This also really sucks for a guy like Connelly who has a lot of question marks around him heading into the 2024 NHL draft.
Gavin McKenna then scores from the point to tie the game at 3 on the Power Play scoring his 9th goal of the tournament. The assists on the goal went to Tij Iginla and Porter Martone at 10:25 of the third period.
Barrie Colts Centre Cole Beaudoin then makes it a 4-3 game for Canada when he scores on the Power Play from Jett Luchanko and Ryder Ritchie at 13:40 of the third period.
Tij Iginla then scores and make is a 5-3 game with the assists going to the Whitehorse Wizard Gavin McKenna and Henry Mews at 14:19 of the third on the Power Play.
The USA made it a 5-4 game when Carver, Minnesota native and University of Minnesota commit Brodie Ziemer scored on a tip at 15:36 of the third. The assists on the goal went to EJ Emery and Cole Hutson. EJ Emery is actually a Canadian from Vancouver. His father happens to be ex CFLer Eric Emery who played with the BC Lions, Calgary Stampeders, and Ottawa Roughriders. He was born in Louisiana and grew up in Compton, California. Emery is headed to the University of North Dakota next season.
Gavin McKenna fired it into the empty net to seal the deal for the Canadians at 18:42 of the third. The assist on the goal went to goalie Carter George.
Shots on goal in the third period were 14-4 for Canada. The Americans outshot the Canadians in the game however 35-25.
Carter George made 31 saves on the 35 shots that he faced for the win for the Canadians. For the Americans University of Notre Dame commit Nick Kempf from Morton Grove, Illinois made 19 saves on the 24 shots the he faced for the Americans.
LJ Mooney is the cousin of NHLer Logan Cooley and was very entertaining to watch also. He is a 2007 born from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is eligible for the 2025 NHL draft and is committed to play for the University of Minnesota in 25-26. His CHL rights are held by the Kitchener Rangers.
IIHF Directorate Awards-Best Goalkeeper: Carter George, Canada-Best Defender: Cole Hutson, USA-Best Forward: James Hagens, USA
Media All-Star Team & MVP-Goalkeeper: Carter George, Canada -Defender: Luka Radivojevic, Slovakia-Defender: Cole Hutson, USA-Forward: James Hagens, USA-Forward: Gavin McKenna, Canada-Forward: Porter Martone, Canada-Most Valuable Player: James Hagens, USA
