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2026 IIHF World Junior Championship

Team USA Unable To Complete Comeback As Sweden Claims 6-3 Victory

Team USA Unable To Complete Comeback As Sweden Claims 6-3 Victory

The 2026 World Junior Championships are wrapping up play for 2025 on New Year's Eve! As Sweden defeats Team USA, here is a recap of the in-game action!

Jan 1, 2026 by Madelyn Mendoza
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The 2026 Worlds Juniors sure knows how to ring in the new year, and for Team Sweden a victory will help this team ring in the new year after defeating Team USA, 6-3. 

The momentum was all in Sweden's hands for most for the game as the team picked up its first goal in the opening period and had two un-answered goals in the second before Team USA got on the board. 

The US would not go away without a fight though, piecing together three goals to battle their way back to what once was a two score game. 

Eddie Genborg and Lucas Pettersson would lead the way for Sweden each with two goals. Jack Berglund would rack up three assists in the victory. 

On the US side of things, Will Zellers, Chase Reid and Teddy Stiga would each find one goal for the team. Brodie Ziemer would find two assist in the game. 

Team Sweden will be the lone undefeated team in the Group A standings as teams will await bracket placement as games will resume on Jan. 2. 

Recap all of the in game action down below! 

End Of Regulation, Sweden Wins! 3rd Period - 60:00

USA 3, Sweden 6 

The final horns signals the end of regulation and Sweden has walked away with a three goal victory of Team USA, 6-3. 

Sweden Gets More Minutes! 3rd Period - 57:43

USA 3, Sweden 6

Sweden grabs another two penalty minutes. 

Sascha Boumedienne gets two minutes for delaying the game. 

Penalty Minutes For Sweden | 3rd Period - 49:14

USA 3, Sweden 6

Another two penalty minutes are awarded to Team Sweden. 

Leo Sahlin Wallenius is given two minutes for interference. 

Back To A Three Goal Game! 3rd Period - 46:43

USA 3, Sweden 6 

Sweden has turned this game back into a three goal game. 

Ivar Stenberg pucks the puck in the net for Sweden. He is assisted by Jack Berglund and Victor Eklund. 

USA Gets More Penalty Minutes! 3rd Period - 45:01

USA 3, Sweden 5

Another two penalty minutes is added to the US stat sheet. 

AJ Spellacy gets two minutes for an illegal check to the head or neck. 

Two Penalty Minutes For The US! 3rd Period - 44:44

USA 3, Sweden 5

The US picks up two more penalty minutes. 

Luke Osburn gets two minutes for delaying the game. 

USA Goal! 3rd Period - 42:30 

USA 3, Sweden 5

The USA is fighting back! 

Teddy Stiga finds the goal for the US. He is assisted by LJ Mooney and Ryker Lee. 

More Penalty Minutes For Sweden. 3rd Period - 42:14

USA 2, Sweden 5 

Two more penalty minutes are awarded to Sweden. 

Lucas Pettersson is given two minutes for interference. 

Goalie Change For Team USA | Start 3rd Period - 40:00

USA 2, Sweden 5

A change has been made in goal for the US. 

Nick Kempf is now in goal for the US. 

End 2nd Period! 2nd Period - 40:00

USA 2, Sweden 5

The end of the second period is here. Sweden still leads by three goals. 

Two More Minutes For Sweden! 2nd Period - 36:44

USA 2, Sweden 5 

Sweden picks up two more penalty minutes. 

Linus Eriksson gets the minutes for hooking. 

USA Cuts The Lead Back To Three! 2nd Period - 36:44

USA 2, Sweden 5 

Team USA is not going away without a fight. 

Will Zellers scores the goal for the US. He is assisted Brodie Ziemer and James Hagens. 

Sweden Goes Up By Four! 2nd Period - 35:15

USA 1 , Sweden 5

Team Sweden is on a roll as they extend their lead by four. 

Eddie Genborg gets the goal. He is assisted by Viggo Bjorck  and Liam Danielsson

Penalty Minutes For USA! 2nd Period - 34:33

USA 1, Sweden 4 

The US picks up two more penalty minutes. 

Logan Hensler gets two minutes for interference. 

Sweden Extends The Lead Back To Three! 2nd Period - 32:44

USA 1, Sweden 4

Just like that Sweden is back up by three goals. 

Lucas Pettersson picks up his second goal of the night. He is assisted by Jack Berglund. 

Two More Penalty Minutes For Sweden | 2nd Period - 31:00

USA 1, Sweden 3

Another two penalty minutes are awarded to Sweden. 

Love Harenstam will get two minutes for diving/embellishment. 

USA On The Board! 2nd Period - 28:55

USA 1, Sweden 3

Team USA is on the board and cuts the lead to two goals. 

Chase Reid picks up the goal for the US. He is assisted by Cole Eiserman and Brodie Ziemer. 

First Penalty Minutes For Sweden! 2nd Period - 27:01

USA 0, Sweden 3

The first penalty minutes for Sweden have been awarded. 

Eric Nilson gets two minutes for tripping. 

Make It Three Goals For Sweden! 2nd Period - 26:01

USA 0, Sweden 3 

Just three minutes after the second goal, the puck finds the back of the net once again for Sweden. 

Lucas Pettersson picks up the goal. He is assisted by Danielsson and William Hakansson. 

Sweden Extends The Lead! 2nd Period - 23:01

USA 0, Sweden 2 

Team Sweden has the offensive momentum on its side as they extend the lead, 2-0. 

Eddie Genborg picks up the goal! He is assisted by Liam Danielsson and Viggo Bjorck.

USA Picks Up First Penalty Minutes! 2nd Period - 21:35

USA 0, Sweden 1 

Just as quickly as the second period starts, Team USA has picked up its first penalty minutes of the day. 

Ryker Lee gets two minutes for interference on a goalkeeper. 

Start Second Period! 2nd Period - 20:00

USA 0, Sweden 1 

The second period of play is underway! Sweden still has a one-goal lead. Will Team USA tie it up? 

End 1st Period! 1st Period - 20:00

USA 0, Sweden 1 

As the final buzzer of the opening period sounds, Sweden has the early 1-0 lead. There is still plenty of hockey left to go, so stayed tuned for all the action!

Shots On Goal Comparison - 1st Period

USA 0, Sweden 1 

As Sweden still holds on to a one goal lead early in this game, the shots on goal battle is tight. Sweden currently leads the shots on goal category 8-7. 

Sweden Strikes First! 1st Period - 9:17

USA 0, Sweden 1 

Sweden gets the puck in the net first! Casper Juustovaara gets the goal! He is assisted by Milton Gastrin and Eric Nilson. 

Puck Drop! 1st Period - 0:00

USA 0, Sweden 0

Puck drop is officially here and these two teams are ready to get things started! 

Knowling will start in goal for Team USA. 

Harenstam will start in goal for Sweden. 

Update For USA Lineup:

Huge update for the Team USA lineup ahead of puck drop. 17-year old Brady Knowling will be starting in goal for Team USA. 

This will be Knowling's World Junior Debut and he is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft. Knowling plays for the U.S. National Under-18 team. 

 

Group B Standings As Of Dec. 13 at 4:30 PM CT

  1. Canada (2-1-0-0)
  2. Finland (2-0-1-0)
  3. Czechia (1-1-0-1)
  4. Latvia (1-0-1-1)
  5. Denmark (0-0-0-4)

Group A Standings As Of Dec. 31 at 4:15 PM CT

  1. Sweden (3-0-0-0)
  2. United States (3-0-0-0)
  3. Switzerland (2-0-0-2)
  4. Slovakia (1-0-0-3)
  5. Germany (0-0-0-4)

How To Watch USA vs. Sweden

Just one hour to go until puck drop for these two teams! Fans in the US can watch this game on FuboTV or the NHL Network! For fans in Canada, you can stream the game live on TSN! 

USA Lineup

Goalkeepers

  • 31, Nick Kempf
  • 35, Brady Knowling

Defensemen

  • 2, Luke Osburn
  • 5, Logan Hensler
  • 6, Adam Kleber
  • 7, Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen
  • 14, Asher Barnett
  • 16, EJ Emery
  • 25, Chase Reid

Forwards

  • 4, Teddy Stiga
  • 8, AJ Spellacy
  • 10, James Hagens
  • 11, Cole McKinney
  • 12, Will Zellers
  • 17, Ryker Lee
  • 18, LJ Mooney
  • 22, Brendan McMorrow
  • 23, Shane Vansaghi
  • 24, Will Horcoff
  • 34, Cole Eiserman
  • 38, Kamil Bednarik
  • 74, Brodie Ziemer

Sweden Lineup

Goalkeepers

  • 1, Herman Liv
  • 30, Love Harenstam

Defensemen

  • 3, Felix Ohrqvist
  • 4, Leo Sahlin Wallenius
  • 5, Sascha Boumedienne
  • 7, Viggo Gustafsson
  • 8, Felix Carell
  • 19, William Hakansson
  • 20, Alfons Freij

Forwards

  • 11, Lucas Pettersson
  • 12, Milton Gastrin
  • 14, Linus Eriksson
  • 15, Ivar Stenberg
  • 16, Anton Frondell
  • 18, Victor Eklund
  • 21, Viggo Bjorck
  • 22, Loke Krantz
  • 23, Liam Danielsson
  • 25, Eddie Genborg
  • 26, Jack Berglund
  • 28, Eric Nilson
  • 29, Casper Juustovaara

USA World Juniors Roster 2026

Forwards

  • Kamil Bednarik, C, Boston University (NYI)
  • Cole Eiserman, LW, Boston University (NYI)
  • James Hagens, C, Boston College (BOS)
  • Will Horcoff, LW, Michigan (PIT)
  • Ryker Lee, RW, Michigan State (NSH)
  • Cole McKinney, C, Michigan (SJS)
  • Brendan McMorrow, RW, Denver (LAK)
  • LJ Mooney, RW, Minnesota (MTL)
  • Max Plante, C/W, Minnesota Duluth (DET)
  • AJ Spellacy, C/W, Windsor Spitfires (CHI)
  • Teddy Stiga, C/W, Boston College (NSH)
  • Shane Vansaghi, LW, Michigan State (PHI)
  • Will Zellers, LW, North Dakota (BOS)
  • Brodie Ziemer, RW, Minnesota (BUF)

Defense

  • Asher Barnett, LHD, Michigan (EDM)
  • EJ Emery, RHD, North Dakota (NYR)
  • Logan Hensler, RHD, Wisconsin (OTT)
  • Cole Hutson, LHD, Boston University (WSH)
  • Adam Kleber, RHD, Minnesota Duluth (BUF)
  • Luke Osburn, LHD, Wisconsin (BUF)
  • Chase Reid, RHD, Soo Greyhounds (2026)
  • Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen, LHD, Michigan

Goalies

  • Caleb Heil, G, Madison Capitols (TBL)
  • Nick Kempf, G, Notre Dame (WSH)
  • Brady Knowling, G, U.S. National Under-18 Team (2026)

Sweden World Juniors Roster 2026

Forwards

  • Jack Berglund, C/W, Färjestad BK (PHI)
  • Viggo Björck, C/W, Djurgårdens (2026)
  • Wilson Björck, LW, Colorado College (VAN)
  • Viktor Eklund, RW, Djurgårdens (NYI)
  • Lunus Eriksson, C, Timrå IK (FLA)
  • Anton Frondell, C/W, Djurgårdens (CHI)
  • Eddie Genborg, RW, Timrå IK (DET)
  • Milton Gästrin, C, MoDo Hockey (WSH)
  • Casper Juustovaara Karlsson, C/W, Luleå HF
  • Loke Krantz, RW, (SEA), Linköping HC U20
  • Eric Nilson, C/W, Michigan State (ANA)
  • Lucas Pettersson, C/W, Brynäs IF (ANA)
  • Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frölunda (2026)

Defense

  • Sascha Boumedienne, D, Boston University (WPG)
  • Felix Carrell, D, Mälmo Redhawks
  • Alfons Freij, D, Timrå IK (WPG)
  • Viggo Gustafsson, D, AIK (NSH)
  • William Håkansson, D, Luleå HF
  • Victor Johansson, D, Leksands IF (TOR)
  • Leo Sahlin Wallenius, D, Växjö Lakers HC (SJS)
  • Felix Ohrqvist, D, Linköping HC

Goalies

  • Måns Goos, G, Färjestad U20 (DAL)
  • Love Härenstam, G, Södertälje SK (STL)
  • Herman Liv, G, Almtuna IS

2026 World Juniors Quarterfinal Schedule

Friday, January 2

  • 12:30 p.m. ET - Relegation Game
  • 2:00 p.m. ET - Quarterfinals Game 1 - Sweden vs. TBD
  • 4:30 p.m. ET - Quarterfinals Game 2 - TBD vs. TBD
  • 6:00 p.m. ET - Quarterfinals Game 3 - USA vs. TBD
  • 8:30 p.m. ET - Quarterfinals Game 4 - Canada vs. TBD

2026 World Juniors Medal Round Schedule, Semifinals and Final

Sunday, January 4

  • 4:30 p.m. ET - Semifinals Game 1
  • 8:30 p.m. ET - Semifinals Game 2

Monday, January 5

  • 4:30 p.m. ET - Bronze Medal Game
  • 8:30 p.m. ET - Gold Medal Game

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