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US will play Sweden for the World Juniors gold medal after beating Finland in the semifinals

By Associated Press Staff
Associated Press
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U.S. goaltender Trey Augustine falls in the crease as teammates Jimmy Snuggerud (81) and Ryan Chesley (71) try to clear the puck from Finland's Rasmus Kumpulainen (18) and Emil Hemming (32) during the first period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship semifinal Thursday Jan. 4, 2024, in Gothenburg, Sweden.

U.S. goaltender Trey Augustine falls in the crease as teammates Jimmy Snuggerud (81) and Ryan Chesley (71) try to clear the puck from Finland's Rasmus Kumpulainen (18) and Emil Hemming (32) during the first period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship semifinal Thursday Jan. 4, 2024, in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Christinne Muschi/AP)

GOTHENBURG, Sweden — The United States will face host Sweden for the gold medal in the IIHF World Junior Championship.

The U.S. advanced to the tournament final after Cutter Gauthier scored on the power play with 3:13 left in the third period to beat Finland 3-2 on Thursday. The Philadelphia Flyers prospect’s goal came after the Americans erased a two-goal deficit in the semifinal game.

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“I’m proud of our guys,” U.S. coach David Carle said. “Even though we were down, I didn’t mind our first period and there was no panic in the room. Our special teams and goaltending were excellent, and we’re excited to have the chance to play for a gold medal.”

Jimmy Snuggerud, a 2022 St. Louis Blues first-round pick, and Will Smith, whom the San Jose Sharks drafted fourth in 2023, scored the goals to mount the comeback. Detroit Red Wings prospect Trey Augustine made 19 saves in net to send the U.S. back to the World Juniors final, which takes place Friday.

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Sweden got there by beating the Czech Republic 5-2, led by Jonathan Lekkerimaki, who scored twice, including the go-ahead goal.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Lekkerimaki said of the gold-medal game. “Very excited.”

The U.S. lost to Sweden at the under-18 worlds in 2022 before the players of this age group got a measure of revenge in the 2023 rematch.

“Stripped the gold medal from our necks,” Gauthier said of the under-18 defeat. “We remember it like yesterday.”

American captain Rutger McGroarty, another player born in 2004 who was on the wrong end of things in 2022, is ready for the jeers from the partisan crowd — including plenty of Canadians cheering on the Swedes — at the Scandinavium arena.

“I don’t know who doesn’t love that, being the bad guy,” the Winnipeg Jets prospect said. “We’re up for being the bad guy and getting a gold medal on their home turf.”

The Finns and Czechs will play for bronze Friday. The U.S. is looking to win gold at the under-20 event for the first time since 2021.

Two-time defending champion Canada was bounced in the quarterfinals by the Czech Republic.

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