He might be Canadian through and through, but Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery will have a vested rooting interest in Team USA during Sunday night’s World Juniors gold medal game. Capitals prospects Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson will go for gold against Team Finland in Ottawa at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Leonard will play for gold at the tournament for the second year in a row after recording eight points (5g, 3a) in six games so far. Carbery spoke Sunday about the 19-year-old winger’s eventful tournament, which has also included being booed by Canadian fans and breaking his nose.
“Is that surprising to you, knowing Lenny now?” Carbery said of Leonard’s fiery performance. “He’s a gamer, man, and that’s why we’re excited about his future in this organization. He’s such a competitor, and you see it come out on such a big stage, representing your country, and you’re excited about the future because you can just feel how passionate he is and how bad he wants to win and how much he lays it on the line. Caps fans are going to get used to that for a long time to come.”
Team USA will compete for gold in consecutive tournaments for the first time ever, facing a Finnish team that gave them their only loss in the preliminary group stage. Finland defeated the States 4-3 in overtime on December 29.
Both Capitals prospects have played major roles in getting Team USA to this point. Hutson’s nine points (2g, 7a) tie for the scoring lead in the tournament with Leonard just a single point behind.
“Great opportunity, win back-to-back for Lenny and then for Hutson to win his first,” Carbery said. “It’ll be awesome. It’s been great to see, especially players that now you know and you have a relationship with, and you’re pulling for them, and you’re seeing them have success. It’s always nice to see.”
Leonard and Hutson aren’t the only Capitals prospects to make a splash at this year’s tournament. Carbery told reporters he reached out to Latvia’s Eriks Mateiko after the 2024 Caps third-round pick helped lead his nation to only their third and fourth-ever win at a World Juniors, including a major upset against Team Canada where Mateiko scored the game-winning shootout goal.
Mateiko’s five goals in five games are the second-most in one World Juniors ever by a Latvian player. The 19-year-old forward was leading the tournament in goals when Latvia was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Sweden.
“I texted with him yesterday, Mateiko, because he did a phenomenal job for Latvia, and it was impressive to see all the success he was having and beating Canada and the shootout,” Carbery said. “Those are big moments for young players.”
Carbery plans to get together with the rest of Washington’s coaching staff to watch Leonard and Hutson’s final game.
“We’ve been following it closely as a staff, watching the games, and tonight I think we’ll probably get together as a staff and watch that game,” Carbery said.
Puck drop for the final is set for 7:30 pm.
