At a Glance
- U.S. wins 6-5 over Slovakia after a dramatic comeback.
- James Hagens scores two goals in a 1:03 span.
- U.S. overcomes a two-goal deficit to secure the win.
- Why it matters: The victory showcases the U.S. team’s resilience and sets the tone for the rest of the tournament.
U.S. rallied from a 2-goal hole to defeat Slovakia 6-5 in the World Junior Championship. James Hagens proved pivotal, netting two goals in just over a minute.
Comeback Highlights
With the score tied at 4-4, Hagens struck again 18 seconds into the third period to give the U.S. a 5-4 lead. The Americans never looked back, adding a final goal before the game ended.
James Hagens stated:
> “It lets us learn about what type of team we have. We don’t quit. So to be able to see that out there, how we all battled back and responded, it was good.”
- James Hagens – 2 goals (second period, third period)
- Caleb Heil – 26 saves in goal
- Brendan McMorrow – goal
- Will Zellers – goal
Group Stage Showdowns
Earlier in the tournament, the U.S. tied Sweden 3-0 in Group A play, while Sweden dominated Germany 8-1. In Group B, Canada’s Gavin McKenna recorded a hat-trick as Canada beat Denmark 9-1, and Czechia edged Finland 2-1 in overtime.
| Opponent | USA Score | Sweden Score |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 0 | 8 |
| Slovakia | 6 | 5 |
Other notable performances included Czech striker Adam Jiricek scoring in overtime to lift Czechia over Finland, and Slovak forward Tomas Chrenko netting two goals. The U.S. roster also saw contributions from Lee Ryker, AJ Spellacy, and a strong defensive effort despite missing defenseman Cole Hutson.
Jack Berglund stated:
> “We have to be careful with some things like taking too long shifts or getting stuck on the blue lines. Stuff like that can punish us against the U.S. If we have a bad change, bad turnover, they will come with speed. We need to be ready for that.”
Gavin McKenna said:
> “It’s something you dream of as a kid. Felt pretty good.”
Brendan McMorrow added:
> “He’s like lightning in a bottle, He can make something out of nothing, and in a game like that, too, we could have used him. But you know, we’re battling through it and hopefully we’ll get him back soon.”
Key Takeaways
- U.S. secured a 6-5 win after a dramatic comeback.
- James Hagens’ rapid double proved decisive.
- The tournament highlighted strong individual performances across teams.
The win underscores the U.S. team’s determination and sets a high bar for the remaining games in the World Junior Championship.
