In a historic moment for USA Hockey, the United States secured its first gold medal at the IIHF World Championship since 1933, defeating Switzerland 1-0 in the finals held at Avicii Arena in Stockholm on Sunday.
Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres delivered the decisive goal just 2:02 into overtime, cementing the victory for the American team.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Swayman from the Boston Bruins showcased his skills with 25 impressive saves, contributing greatly to the U.S. team’s success.
Reflecting on the tournament, Swayman expressed how the experience rejuvenated him both personally and professionally.
“I tell you what, this tournament and this group rejuvenated me as an individual,” Swayman said.
“I gained so much more confidence. I found my game again. I was happy again. I just learned so much. This year was obviously an up-and-down year for me personally, and to come here and be surrounded by such quality human beings and getting a job done, that’s a turning point for me in my life. I couldn’t be more excited for it.”
Swayman added, “It’s a long time coming for USA Hockey, and to be part of the group that finally did it is surreal. I couldn’t be happier man.”
The weight of history was on the team’s shoulders, as they had not medaled at the tournament since 2000 and had endured 12 consecutive semifinal losses prior to this year.
Coach Ryan Warsofsky, affiliated with the San Jose Sharks, emphasized the significance of the win.
“I get goosebumps just thinking about it,” Warsofsky shared.
“We talked about it when the tournament started. The first meeting we met … 1933, right? That was addressed. It’s not good enough for USA Hockey. World Juniors we’ve won. 4 Nations had a good run. Olympics is coming up. It’s time for us to really put a stamp on it, and this tournament is the start of it. We were embarrassed, truly embarrassed, that we hadn’t won this tournament, and now we don’t have to have that weight on our back.”
This victory comes on the heels of the U.S. losing in the championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament earlier this year, where they fell to Canada.
In a tightly contested battle in February, Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers scored in overtime to give Canada a 3-2 victory over the U.S.
This time, however, the Americans stood strong and emerged victorious.
“That’s hockey, man,” Swayman remarked.
“The biggest moments and the biggest stages, that’s what we live for. I knew that we had something special in here. We went back in that locker room, and we were excited for it. We weren’t nervous. We knew this was going to be an incredible moment… 1933, that was in our mind the whole time and we knew we had a job to do. Mission accomplished, baby.”
The U.S. roster featured many fresh faces compared to their earlier appearance in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Out of the roster, only two players—Swayman and defenseman Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets—played in both tournaments.
This successful campaign will undoubtedly serve as a stepping stone for players like Thompson, Clayton Keller of Utah Mammoth, and Frank Nazar from the Chicago Blackhawks, particularly with the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics on the horizon.
This will be the first Olympics to allow NHL participation since 2014, and many of these players will be looking to showcase their talents on an even larger stage.
Thompson’s winning goal during the championship contributed to his impressive tally of nine points during the tournament, thanks to six goals and three assists.
Keller, the team captain, led the squad with a total of 10 points, including three goals and seven assists.
Both Nazar (six goals and six assists) and Logan Cooley from Utah Mammoth (four goals and eight assists) tied for the team lead, each contributing a remarkable 12 points throughout the tournament.
The impressive teamwork and individual performances have positioned the U.S. as a formidable force in the international hockey scene, particularly as they head into the Olympics.
“It’s a testament to USA Hockey,” Swayman noted, highlighting the abundance of talent within the ranks.
“We have so many talented players and it’s a good thing to have the competition we do. We’re raising the bar. It’s a new regime. We want to make it that way. USA Hockey is here to stay and this is the first step for us to do that.”
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