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Team USA wins gold at world junior hockey championship

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Russia (NEWS1130) – The United States won the junior ice hockey championships after Rocco Grimaldi scored twice and Vince Trocheck added an empty-net goal to clinch a 3-1 win over Sweden in the final.

Filip Sandberg put defending champion Sweden ahead on a power play early in the second period, but Grimaldi then scored twice in a three-minute span to swing the game in the Americans’ favour. He powered from behind the net to score an equalizer from a narrow angle, and then redirected Jacob Trouba’s slap shot from the blue line midway through the second period.

Sweden pulled its goalie for an extra player with 1:42 left but failed to capitalize. Instead, Trocheck rounded off the win with 16.7 seconds left.

John Gibson made 26 saves for the victory and was named the MVP of the tournament.

Earlier, Russia beat Canada 6-5 in overtime to win the bronze medal at the world junior hockey championship.

Valerie Nichushkin scored the overtime winner at 1:35.

It’s the first time since 1998 Canada hasn’t won a medal at the world junior tournament.

Nail Yakupov scored twice for the host team, which also got goals from Alexander Khokhlachyov, Kirill Dyakov, and Yevgeni Mozer.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jonathan Huberdeau, Mark Scheifele, Ryan Murphy, and Brett Ritchie replied for Canada.

Russian goaltender Andrei Makarov, who plays for the Western Hockey League’s Saskatoon Blades, made 40 saves for the win.

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