TROIS-RIVIÈRES, Quebec – The U.S. Junior Select Team, helped by a pair of assists from Evan Jardine (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Youngstown Phantoms), captured the 2025 World Junior A Challenge championship with a 5-1 victory over Canada West here today at Colisée Vidéotron.
With the victory, Team USA captured its second-consecutive and 11th all-time World Junior A Challenge championship. The U.S. finished the tournament with a 4-0-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record.
"Winning gold is always special," said Andy Brandt (Wausau, Wis.) head coach of the U.S. Junior Select Team. "I'm proud of our players and thankful for the staff and the group that put this team together. We're proud to represent the USA as well as the USHL."
Brent Solomon (Champlin, Minn./Sioux Falls Stampede) opened the scoring 1:47 into the contest, as he corralled a pass from Jardine, deked past Canadian netminder Luke McKechnie and tucked the puck home to put the U.S. ahead early.
Team USA took a 2-0 lead with 5:31 remaining in the first frame, as Masun Fleece (Rolling Hills, Calif./Dubuque Fighting Saints) tapped the puck in on a power-play, set up by an effort in front of the net by Jardine, who tallied his second assist of the game.
GAME PHOTOS
With just over one minute to play, U.S. netminder Caleb Heil (Victoria, Minn./Madison Capitols) made a crucial breakaway save to keep his team ahead by two heading into the first intermission. Heil finished the contest with 16 saves.
The U.S. added to its lead at 3:32 of the second, as David Bosco (Winchester, Mass./Cedar Rapids RoughRiders) ripped a wrist shot over the outstretched glove of McKechnie that found the top corner of the net.
Canada West’s Noah Chadi 15 seconds later, scoring on a sharp angle shot to cut Team USA’s lead to 3-1.
Solomon added his second of the night and Team USA’s second power-play tally of the game with 3:03 remaining and John Stout (Minnetonka, Minn./Madison Capitols) sealed the victory and the U.S. championship with an empty-net goal 40 seconds later to account for the 5-1 final.
NOTES: Evan Jardine was named U.S. Player of the Game … Team USA outshot Canada West, 33-17 … The U.S went 2-4 on the power play while Canada West went 0-2.
More Team USA News
Tage Thompson’s Massive Net-Front Presence Paying Dividends For U.S. Men’s Olympic Ice Hockey Team
Kendall Coyne Schofield Powers U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team Past Italy With Two Goals
Team USA Skates to 6-0 Victory Over Italy in Olympic Winter Games Quarterfinals
The U.S. Set to Play in Semifinals, Monday (Feb. 16) at 10:40 a.m. ET
