Finland Skates to 4-3 Overtime Victory Against U.S. in World Juniors Quarterfinals

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Cole Hutson (North Barrington, Ill./Boston University), Cole Eiserman (Newburyport, Mass./Boston University), and Ryker Lee (Wilmette, Ill./Michigan State University) each registered goals, but the U.S. National Junior Team fell 4-3 in overtime to Finland here tonight (Jan. 2) at Grand Casino Arena in the quarterfinals of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.

“It was an honor to coach this group.” said Bob Motzko, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team and also head coach of the University of Minnesota men’s ice hockey team. “They played a great game tonight and came up just short. Give Finland credit. It’s an empty feeling right now, but our guys gave it all they had.”

HIGHLIGHTS

The opening frame was scoreless for both sides as U.S. netminder Nick Kempf (Morton Grove, Ill./University of Notre Dame) made several key stops, including denying a breakaway chance for Finland midway through the period. 

Just 35 seconds into the middle stanza, Kamil Bednarik (Elmhurst, Ill./Boston University) threaded a cross-ice pass to Hutson as Team USA entered the offensive zone on a three-on-two opportunity, and Hutson sent a top-shelf laser off the post and in to open the scoring.

Heikki Ruohonen leveled the score for Finland at 4:46 when he rifled a short-side wrister into the top-left corner past Kempf from the left faceoff dot off a backhand feed from Max Westergard.

At the 10:15 mark, while on the power play, Hutson carried the puck down into the left corner of the offensive zone and sent a saucer pass to Eiserman, who buried the go-ahead tally with a one-timer from the top of the right circle. James Hagens (Hauppauge, N.Y./Boston College) also recorded an assist on the play.

Finland knotted the game at 2-2 at the 12:43 mark of the third when a shot from Aron Kiviharju from the point was deflected and found the stick of Leo Tuuva on the back post, who directed the puck past Kempf.

Less than a minute later, Joona Saarelainen scored a go-ahead goal for Finland from just outside the crease off a backhand assist from behind the net from Tuuva.

With 1:33 left in regulation, as Kempf skated to the bench to give the U.S. an extra attacker, Will Zellers (Maple Grove, Minn./University of North Dakota) battled through traffic and carried the puck behind Finland’s net, where Hagens gained possession and sent a quick pass to Lee in the slot, who capitalized with a one-timer to even the score at 3-3.

After the remainder of regulation remained scoreless, the two sides headed into a 10-minute, three-on-three overtime period.

At the 2:11 mark of overtime, Finland’s Arttu Valila capitalized with a quick, top-shelf wrister from the left circle for the game-winning goal.

Kempf made 21 saves in goal for Team USA.

NOTES: The U.S. outshot Finland 31-25… Team USA went 1-3 on the power play, while Finland was 0-2 … James Hagens, Will Zellers, and Brodie Ziemer (Chaska, Minn./University of Minn.) were named Team USA’s three best players of the tournament … Cole Hutson had two points to become the U.S. career points leader among defensemen in the World Juniors.

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