ST. PAUL, Minn. — As the 2025 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships unfold, the U.S. National Junior Team faces a pivotal moment. Their initial hopes took a hit when Sweden defeated them 6-3, but all eyes are now set on the upcoming quarterfinal match against Finland. The atmosphere is electric, with U.S. head coach Bob Motzko declaring, “The real tournament starts now.”
The sting of losing to Sweden lingers, yet there’s a sense of familiarity among the players, many of whom have been here before. Last year, they experienced a narrow defeat to the same Finnish team in the preliminary round, only to turn the tables in an exhilarating gold-medal matchup. This history seems to fuel their determination.
“It’s good to get the loss out of the way. Kind of frees you up so you’re gripping your stick a little less tight,” said Teddy Stiga, who secured gold for Team USA last year with an overtime goal. His experience and newfound confidence could be crucial as they enter this knockout stage.
Motzko emphasizes the value of relying on returning players to help rally the team. With the likes of Stiga, who finally scored his first goal of the tournament against Sweden, and fellow Boston College teammate James Hagens—who netted two goals against Slovakia—the team’s offensive potential seems to be gaining momentum.
Captain Brodie Ziemer is also thriving, leading the squad with five assists, showcasing his ability to elevate the team’s play at crucial moments. However, challenges persist; injuries have hit Team USA hard, including the absence of Trevor Connelly due to a pre-tournament injury.
The situation worsened when Cole Hutson left the game against Switzerland after getting struck in the head by a puck. Although Motzko anticipates Hutson’s return for the match against Finland, the outlook for Max Plante remains uncertain after he exited the game against Slovakia with an injury.
In light of these setbacks, the emergence of new talent offers a fresh wave of optimism. One standout player is Will Zellers, a freshman from North Dakota, who has confirmed his scoring ability with goals in every game, tying him for the tournament lead with five. Zellers attributes his success to a solid offseason, noting the physical gains he made that enhanced the power of his shot.
Growing up in the vicinity of Maple Grove, Minnesota, Zellers cherishes the opportunity to represent his home at such a prestigious tournament. He reflects on the excitement of seeing local fans showing their support, remarking: “I saw a kid in a Maple Grove sweatshirt out there for warmups. It’s so special to know you’re backed by kids that you were in their shoes not too long ago.”
For Zellers, this isn’t just a tournament; it’s a lifelong dream. Watching past champions like Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras lift the U.S. to gold ignited his aspiration to achieve similar glory. Now standing on the brink of the knockout rounds, he’s just three wins away from making that dream a reality.
“You watch these games, and you watch all these teams, and all those guys are champions,” he states, framing the competition as both a challenge and an opportunity. “You want to cement your name and be a gold medalist for the United States.”
Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.