Michigan State product Isaac Howard scored the deciding marker. Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Team USA wins 2024 World Junior Championship

Originally posted on Pro Hockey Rumors
By Brennan McClain | Last updated Jan 5, 2024 5:41 PM ET

With their victory over Team Sweden, Team USA has officially won the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, taking home the gold medal for the sixth time since the tournament’s inception in 1977. The game-winning goal would come in the second period, as Michigan State University product Isaac Howard put away the deciding marker relatively early on in the game.

USA GOAL

An incredible pass by Drew Fortescue sets up this Isaac Howard goal to give Team USA the lead!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/tBAwk4NfhR
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2024

Team USA will now move alone into third place in total gold medals in the tournament’s history after being tied with Finland with five since 2021. Team Russia/Soviet Union is in second place with eight gold medals, while Team Canada is in front by a large margin with a whopping 20 gold medals in the tournament’s history.

After leading Team Czechia in scoring in last year’s tournament, Buffalo Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich would lead the entire tournament this year, scoring six goals and 12 points in seven games. Tied in the lead with Kulich was Philadelphia Flyers’ prospect, Cutter Gauthier of Team USA, scoring two goals and 12 points in seven games.

Outside of Team USA bringing home the gold, and Team Sweden taking home the silver medal, Team Czechia would go on to defeat Team Finland in a high-scoring game this morning, winning their second bronze medal in tournament history. Now, the players from each respective country will return back to their regular teams, before the exciting tournament returns next year in Ottawa.

This article first appeared on Pro Hockey Rumors and was syndicated with permission.

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