USA Beats Sweden to Win Gold Medal at 2024 World Junior Hockey Championship

The United States is golden.

The Americans defeated Sweden 6-2 on Friday in the 2024 World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game at the Scandinavium in Sweden to win their first gold medal since 2021 and sixth overall.

It was a dominant performance for the United States, which never lost a game at this year's tournament en route to winning gold.

USA's Gabe Perreault opened the scoring with about three minutes remaining in the first period to give the Americans a 1-0 lead entering the locker room.

The Swedes struck some fear into the Americans early in the second period as Otto Stenberg beat Trey Augustine on a tipped shot to tie the game 1-1.

However, the United States ended up taking a 3-2 lead into the third period thanks to Isaac Howard, who notched two goals in the second. Jonathan Lekkerimaki notched the Swede's only other goal when he scored late in the second period.

The Americans took control of the game in the third period as Zeev Buium and Ryan Leonard scored to put the United States up 5-2 before captain Rutger McGroarty scored on the empty net to cap off the night.

This marks the second time the United States has beaten Sweden in the gold medal game. The Americans defeated the Swedes in the 2013 gold medal game with a roster that included NHLers Jacob Trouba, Johnny Gaudreau, John Gibson and Seth Jones.

While the Americans earned their sixth gold medal, Sweden hasn't won the tournament in more than a decade, with the country's last gold medal coming in 2021. The team is now 2-12 in championship games at the World Juniors.