Golden Opportunity: Zach Werenski, Team USA Claim Gold At 2025 IIHF World Championship

By Will Chase on May 26, 2025 at 8:15 am
USA hockey poses with Johnny Gaudreau's jersey and the championship trophy after Sunday's 1-0 overtime win over Switzerland.
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The Americans are golden.

Tage Thompson's golden goal propelled Team USA to a 1-0 overtime win to defeat Switzerland in Sunday's IIHF World Championship game to give the Americans its first World Championship since 1933.

It was Team USA's first appearance in the championship game since 1934 and it's Zach Werenski's first international gold medal.

Among 16 countries to participate, Werenski was one of seven Columbus Blue Jackets members including players and coaches to represent the organization overseas, which got underway on May 9 and took place in Herning, Denmark, and Stockholm, Sweden.

Of the Blue Jackets taking part, head coach Dean Evason led Team Canada for the first time as its head coach after being an assistant coach last year for the team that finished fourth. Steve McCarthy worked alongside Evason as one of three assistants.

Joining their coaches for the Canadians included Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson who got to play with the likes of Sidney Crosby, Ryan O'Reilly, and Macklin Celebrini. Samuel Knazko, drafted by the Blue Jackets in 2020 in the third round, was part of Team Slovakia. He played two games for the Blue Jackets in 2022-23 and has played the last three seasons for AHL Cleveland, accumulating 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) this past season.

Werenski, a star for Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off and a first-time Norris Trophy candidate after scoring career highs in points (82), goals (23), and assists (59) was a late add for Team USA.

Mikael Pyyhtia was added to Finland's roster as an injury replacement and made his debut for Team Finland in the 2-1 shootout win over Canada on May 19. Pyyhtia has spent time with both Columbus and Cleveland over the last three seasons, including scoring seven points (four goals, three assists) in 47 games for the Blue Jackets in 2024-25.

Teams in the tournament got three points for a win and two points for an overtime win. The Canadians were a perfect 5-0 before a 2-1 shootout loss to Finland during Group play. Canada finished the preliminary round 6-0-1 with 19 points to lead Group A. Canada was upset 2-1 by Denmark in the Quarterfinals, eliminating Evason’s team as the country failed to medal for the second straight year.

Johnson had three points (two goals, one assist) throughout the tournament, scoring twice in the 7-1 win over Latvia on May 11 and recording an assist in the 5-0 win over France on May 13. Fantilli had no points in the eight games.

  • May 10: Canada defeated Slovenia 4-0 
  • May 11: Canada defeated Latvia 7-1
  • May 13: Canada defeated France 5-0
  • May 15: Canada defeated Austria 5-1
  • May 17: Canada defeated Slovakia 7-0
  • May 19: Finland defeated Canada 2-1 (SO)
  • May 20: Canada defeated Sweden 5-3
  • May 22: Denmark defeated Canada 2-1

The Americans finished second in Group B, going 5-1-0-1 with five regulation wins, one overtime win, and a 3-0 loss to Switzerland.

Werenski debuted against Norway on May 14, picking up an assist for the Americans in a 6-5 win and leading the time with 31:38 ice time. The U.S. led the game 5-1 before the Polar Bears came back to force overtime. Werenski picked up another assist in the 6-3 victory over Germany on May 17 and scored a goal in the May 18, 6-1 win over Kazakhstan. Werenski also had assists in the 5-2 win over Czechia on May 20, and two in the 5-2 win over Finland on May 22 to finish with six points (one goal, five assists) in seven games.

  • May 9: USA defeated Denmark 5-0
  • May 11: USA defeated Hungary 6-0
  • May 12: Switzerland defeated USA 3-0
  • May 14: USA defeated Norway 6-5 (OT)
  • May 17: USA defeated Germany 6-3
  • May 18: USA defeated Kazakhstan 6-1
  • May 20: USA defeated Czechia 5-2
  • May 22: USA defeated Finland 5-2
  • May 24: USA defeated Sweden 6-2
  • May 25: USA defeated Switzerland 1-0 (OT)

Knazko had two assists in six games for Slovakia (2-0-1-4) as they finished sixth in Group A. He had one assist in the 3-1 win over Slovenia on May 11 and an assist in the 5-1 loss to Latvia on May 18.

  • May 9: Sweden defeated Slovakia 5-0
  • May 11: Slovakia defeated Slovenia 3-1
  • May 12: Austria defeated Slovakia 3-2 (SO) 
  • May 14: Slovakia defeated France 2-1
  • May 17: Canada defeated Slovakia 7-0
  • May 18: Latvia defeated Slovakia 5-1
  • May 20: Finland defeated Slovakia 2-1

Pyyhtia did not record a point in three games for Finland as the Finns were eliminated by Team USA in the Quarterfinals.

  • May 9: Finland defeated Austria 2-1
  • May 11: Finland defeated France 4-3 (OT)
  • May 12: Sweden defeated Finland 2-1 
  • May 15: Finland defeated Slovenia 9-1
  • May 17: Finland defeated Latvia 2-1
  • May 19: Finland defeated Canada 2-1 (SO)
  • May 20: Finland defeated Slovakia 2-1
  • May 22: USA defeated Finland 5-2

Switzerland beat Denmark 7-0 on Saturday to advance to the final. Sweden beat Denmark 6-2 on Sunday in the bronze medal game.

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