U.S. Falls to Finland in WJC Gold Medal Game

Sasha Chmelevski and Josh Norris scored goals (Michigan), and Cayden Primeau made 28 saves in all, but the U.S. National Junior Team came up short Saturday night in the 2019 IIHF World
Junior Championship gold medal game in Vancouver. A late third-period goal gave Finland a 3-2 victory and its first WJC gold since 2016.

After Finland took a 2-0 lead early in the third period, Chmelevski and Norris scored to tie the game before the Finns took the lead for good with 1:26 remaining in regulation on Kaapo Kakko's goal off a goalmouth scramble. A first-period goal by USA's Oliver Wahlstrom (Boston College) was disallowed, due to interference with Finnish goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

It was the first WJC silver medal since 1997 for the U.S., which was seeking its third gold medal in four years. Finland now has five WJC gold medals overall, while the U.S. remains at four. Ryan Poehling (St. Cloud State) of Team USA was named Most Valuable Player of this year's tournament, after finishing third among all scorers with five goals and eight assist for 13 points.