The United States and Finland are meeting for the 15th time in IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship history with the U.S. leading the all-time series, 9-1–0-4 (W-OTW-OTL-L). All four losses to Finland came in the preliminary rounds, and three of four setbacks occurred in the first three meetings between the countries (1999, 2000, 2001). The U.S. and Finland have met in the semifinals just once (2010), with the U.S. blanking the Finns, 5-0, in that contest.
Team USA scored once in the first frame (Nick Shore), twice in the second (Matt Nieto, Adam Clendening) and twice more in the third period (Shore, Jarred Tinordi). Holding Finland to just 14 shots on goal, Jack Campbell (Port Huron, Mich.) earned the shutout after stopping all attempts against. Team USA has outscored Finland, 40-27. Eight contests have been decided by just one goal including the last three matchups (2013, 2014, 2015).
The United States and Finland have met in the gold-medal game twice, including last year’s dramatic overtime finish. The first time came in 2006, when head coach John Hynes led the U.S. to a 3-1 win for Team USA’s third gold medal. Finland took a 1-0 lead into the second stanza, but Rhett Rakhshani evened the score at one goal apiece early in the period. Chris Summers (Milan, Mich.) scored on the power play to seize the lead for the U.S. and Mike Carman (Apple Valley, Mich.) added an empty-net marker with two seconds left in the third to claim gold. Between the pipes, Joe Palmer (Yorkville, N.Y.) stopped 30 of 31 shots in the victory for Team USA. Last year, the Finns put the U.S. on notice when they scored 17 seconds into the game.
After a scoreless second stanza, the United States was in need of a goal and Jack Roslovic (Columbia, Ohio) responded 8:41 into the third. After 60 minutes couldn’t settle the score, overtime was needed. Colin White (Hanover, Mass.) netted the golden goal and the celebration ensured. Team USA wound up outshooting the Finns, 60-20, in the game.
