The Americans wasted no time making an opening statement at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, rolling past Germany with a dominant 10-4 win on Thursday at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. It was a reminder of why the defending champs, who returned ten from their Gold Medal-winning club last year in Sweden, are poised to hopefully repeat as champions.
From the first puck drop, it was clear the U.S. came to play. James Hagens, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, got things going early. At just 8:07 into the first, he buried a loose puck to make it 1-0. The goal had to survive a German coach’s challenge, but it set the tone for what turned into an absolute showcase for the Americans’ top line from Boston College.
A few minutes later, New York Rangers prospect Gabe Perreault didn’t waste time joining the party either, snapping one top shelf to make it 2-0 off a slick feed from Washington Capitals prospect and USA captain Ryan Leonard. The chemistry from this trio was unreal—fast, creative, and entirely in sync as Leanord helped Hagens and Perrault each have 2 goals and 3 points. You could feel the energy every time they touched the puck.
Germany, to their credit, didn’t roll over. After New York Islanders prospect Cole Eiserman setup Trevor Connelly (VGK) for a rebound goal to make it 3-0, they clawed back to make it 3-2 midway through the second period. exposing some defensive issues for the U.S. and a rare rough day from Trey Augustine, the Detroit Red Wings prospect and top netminder in the tournament allowed four goals on just 22 shots. The USA will need to tighten things up defensively and get a more consistent performance from their goalie moving forward.
But the German’s momentum didn’t last long as Perreault was back at it, linking up again with Hagens to make things 4-2. From there, the floodgates opened.
Before the end of the middle frame, the USA fourth line came through in a gritty fashion to extend the lead. Drew Fortescue (NYR), a +3 on the day, won a hard-fought board battle in the corner, keeping the play alive. The puck reached Paul Fischer (EDM) at the blue line, who sent a long shot toward the net. Germany Goalie Noah Pertuch, who made 46 saves on the day, made the initial stop, but Joey Willis (NSH) pounced on the rebound.
Pertuch also denied Willis, but the puck remained loose in the crease. That’s when Brandon Svoboda (SJ) swooped in. With persistence and poise, he jabbed at the puck through a sea of sticks and found the back of the net. Perreault got another, with a howitzer off a feed from Hutson, making 6-2 through 40 minutes, and the Americans with their foot on the gas.
The third period was more of the same. Buffalo Sabres prospect Brodie Ziemer scored twice, and New York Islanders 2024 first-round selection Cole Eiserman hammered home one home for his first of many this tournament.
Carey Terrance (ANA) added his beauty on a 2-on-1 feed from Svoboda. While he didn’t score, he was Capitals-affiliated and Boston University star defenseman. Cole Hutson had five assists, four shots, and was a +7. The kid was a wizard at the blue line, finding lanes no one else could see and making it look easy.
The win was the red white and blue stripes’ ninth straight, dating back to the 2023 Bronze medal game before they went 7-0 en route to Gold last year.
With the offence clicking like this, the U.S. looks poised for another deep run. If Hagens, Perreault, and Hutson keep playing like they did against Germany, the team will be a nightmare for anyone they face. It’ll be Latvia’s turn to experience this freight train on Saturday.
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