Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson are 2025 World Juniors champions. The two Washington Capitals prospects will take home gold medals after Team USA eked out a 4-3 overtime victory over Team Finland on Sunday night.
After scoring two goals late in the second period to tie the game 3-3, the USA completed their comeback win 8:04 into the first extra frame. Teddy Stiga scored the golden goal, receiving a brilliant lead pass from Zeev Buium and slipping the puck five-hole on netminder Petteri Rimpinen.
Leonard and Hutson combined for four points (1g, 3a) in the win. They finished first and second on the team in scoring. Leonard was named the tournament’s MVP after recording 10 points (5g, 5a) in seven games and Hutson finished as the tournament’s leading scorer with 11 points (3g, 8a) in seven games.
Both players made the media’s all-star team.
Tournament All-Star Team, as voted by the media:
G: Petteri Rimpinen
D: Cole Hutson (WSH)
D: Axel Sandin Pellikka (DET)
F: Ryan Leonard (WSH)
F: Jakub Stancl (STL)
F: Gabe Perreault (NYR)— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) January 6, 2025
Team USA has won back-to-back World Juniors gold medals for the first time in the nation’s history. This year’s gold is their seventh (2025, 2024, 2021, 2017, 2013, 2010, 2004). Only the Soviet Union (8) and Canada (20) have won more than them.
The Americans have now won 16 medals in total at the tournament, including two silvers (2019, 1997) and seven bronzes (2023, 2018, 2016, 2011, 2007, 1992, 1986).
As team captain, Leonard was the first to lift the championship trophy and then passed it to his teammates.
He also led the customary “Oh, mama, don’t you cry” chant in the locker room.
Never gets old 🇺🇸 #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/HtldQXAxbE
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) January 6, 2025
Team USA has won seven of their nine all-time appearances in the gold medal game.
Four of those seven victories involved Capitals prospects. Leonard and Hutson won gold in 2025, Leonard and Ryan Chesley secured gold in 2024, Riley Barber took one home in 2013, and John Carlson famously scored a golden goal for the USA in 2010.
WILD ANGLE OF USA WINNING GOLD IN OT‼️🇺🇸🥇 #worldjuniors pic.twitter.com/9qCs5XbUf1
— BarDown (@BarDown) January 6, 2025
Leonard wraps up his career at the under-20 event with two gold medals and just one loss in 14 games. Hutson is eligible to return for Team USA next year.
