College Hockey:
Golden! U.S. beats Sweden for World Junior championship

USCHO Staff Report • Jan. 5, 2013

North Dakota’s Rocco Grimaldi scored two goals to lead the United States to a 3-1 win over Sweden on Saturday to capture the gold medal at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Ufa, Russia.

2013 IIHF U 20 Championship logo Golden! U.S. beats Sweden for World Junior championship

U.S. at the World Juniors

At Ufa Arena, Ufa, Russia

• Thursday, Dec. 27: U.S. 8, Germany 0

• Friday, Dec. 28: Russia 2, U.S. 1

• Sunday, Dec. 30: Canada 2, U.S. 1

• Monday, Dec. 31: U.S. 9, Slovakia 3

• Wednesday, Jan. 2: Quarterfinals: U.S. 7, Czech Republic 0

• Thursday, Jan. 3: Semifinals: U.S. 5, Canada 1

• Saturday, Jan. 5: Gold-medal game: U.S. 3, Sweden 1

For Team USA, it’s the second World Junior crown in four years, following the 2010 title when the Americans downed Canada in overtime in Saskatoon, Sask.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our players and staff,” said U.S. coach Phil Housley in a news release. “And I’m also really happy for hockey fans in our country. This was a total team effort throughout the tournament. It was a very difficult challenge tonight against an excellent Swedish team. We had a terrific experience here and I’d like to thank the Russian Hockey Federation for being an excellent host.”

United States goalie John Gibson (OHL’s Kitchener Rangers) was named the tournament’s MVP and top goaltender and made 26 saves in the final.

Vince Trocheck (OHL’s Saginaw Spirit) iced the game with a late empty-netter.

Gibson, Michigan defenseman Jacob Trouba (also named tournament’s best defenseman), Wisconsin defenseman and Team USA captain Jake McCabe and Boston College forward Johnny Gaudreau were named to the tournament All-Star Team.

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http://profiles.google.com/scottcmartineau SCOTT MARTINEAU
I realize he just turned 18, but I do not think Seth Jones did himself any favors towards being the Top pick of the upcoming draft.
He was thoroughly outplayed in every aspect of the game by Jacob Trouba, who might be a year older than Jones BUT looked more poised with the puck, without the puck, moving the puck offensively, scoring, and with the physicality of the matches throughout the tournament.
Honestly. by the time the final rolled around, I was more comfortable with McCabe, Trouba. Reilly, or Murphy in on Defense – particularly when the match was close.
Don’t get me wrong – I have no doubt Seth Hones will have a fantastic NHL career, I just would not be surprised if he dropped from a possible #1 overall to maybe the fourth defenseman taken in the upcoming draft.,
- http://twitter.com/harvey_yen_lee Harvey Lee
  I agree that Trouba outplayed Jones in the tournament, but I think one year makes a huge difference at this level. Team USA only had 3 players back from last year’s squad, which means that USA Hockey didn’t think most of this year’s team was good enough to compete at this level last year. This is the first time I’ve ever seen Jones. He has all of the physical skills, he just needs to make smarter plays and minimize his giveaways. I really believe he thinks if he makes a mistake, he can make up for it with his speed and skill. That will not stay true much longer. I think he cemented his status as the #1 D available in the draft. Drouin looked good and may surpass McKinnon as the #1 forward, but I don’t think think Jones goes lower than #2 overall.
http://profiles.google.com/scottcmartineau SCOTT MARTINEAU
But on a brighter point, Johnny HOCKEY after Chris Kreider showed what he can do without playing a regular season game and then still having the post-season he did last year, if there is any kind of NHL season this year Gaudreau will make himself a lot of money as he should and will sign his inaugural NHL contract as soon as BC ends and The NHL gets its stuff together.
Congratulations USA on a fantastic World Juniors. I cannot remember the last time we SO DOMINATED Canada in any World Junior game – especially a match that meant something and not merely a Round Robin.
Finally, I have to say after this Tournament that this performance by John Gibson was better in total than ANY Team USA Tourney that Jack Campbell EVER put up for Team USA. Gibson in goal, Trouba leading the Defense, and Gaudreau scoring at will were all phenomenal as we kept Sweden from repeating and Won our Second Gold Medal in Four Years.
It is also nice to put an end to Canada’s run of fourteen straight WJC medals. That is a record likely never to be approached.
Canadian_NCAA_Fan
‘Scott Martineau’ — you are way off about Jones. Comparing him to Trouba doesn’t makes sense with Trouba being two years older; it’s like comparing apples and oranges. Seth Jones will be the best NHL player of any player in the 2013 World Junior Tournament.
Loved how the NCAA-laden (yes, Gibson was Major Junior — but the heart and soul was college hockey; including the mighty mites Gaudreau and Grimaldi) American squad owned it. Seeing Tim Taylor arm in arm with Phil Housley singing the Star Spangled Banner was priceless.
sioux rule
Nice to see Rocco get player of the game in the gold medal game. He took some heat for his play earlier in the tourney and was in fact benched for a game. He showed just what kind of player he is as he took that demotion as motivation to take his game to another level. Now it will be interesting to see what line he goes on when he returns to the Sioux. Nice problem to have.

U.S. at the World Juniors

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