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2004 IIHF World Junior Championship - Helsinki/Hameenlinna, Finland

Helsinki and Hameenlinna, Finland | Dec. 26-Jan. 5

The U.S. National Junior Team went a perfect 6-0-0 (W-L-T) and captured its first-ever gold medal with a 4-3 victory over Canada in the gold-medal game of the 2004 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in Helsinki and Hameenlinna, Finland. This marked the first time the U.S. finished tournament play undefeated.

Captained by Mark Stuart, Team USA included forward Zach Parise, who became the first American player ever selected as Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Parise, who finished with 11 points (5-6), was named Best Forward, as chosen by the directorate, while Al Montoya was named Best Goaltender, marking the first time the U.S. had two players receive Directorate Awards in one tournament. Additionally, Parise and Montoya were named to the All-Star Team.

Team USA Results | 6-0-0 (W-L-T)

DATE OPPONENT RESULT
Dec. 26 Austria W, 8-0
Dec. 28 Slovakia W, 5-0
Dec. 30 Sweden W, 4-3
Dec. 31 Russia W, 4-1
Jan. 3 Finland
Semifinals
W, 2-1
Jan. 5 Canada
Gold Medal Game
W, 4-3

2004 U.S. Roster

Mark Stuart captained Team USA; Two U.S. Players received Directorate Awards:

Zach Parise (Best Forward); Al Montoya (Best Goaltender)


2004 U.S. Statistics

Zach Parise shared tournament lead with 11 points


Tournament Awards

Award Player(s)
Most Valuable Player Zach Parise
Directorate Award(s) Zach Parise (Best Forward)
Al Montoya (Best Goaltender)
All-Star Team Zach Parise (Forward)
Al Montoya (Goaltender)

Final 2004 IIHF WJC Rankings

RANK COUNTRY RECORD
1. United States 6-0-0
2. Canada 5-1-0
3. Finland 5-2-0
4. Czech Republic 3-4-0
5. Russia 2-2-1
6. Slovakia 2-2-1
7. Sweden 4-3-0
8. Switzerland 3-4-0
9. Austria 0-6-1
10. Ukraine 0-6-1