The USA defeated Czechia and Finland beat Sweden in the semifinals of the world junior hockey championship. Highlights from Saturday's action.

Trey Augustine (Detroit Red Wings) made 26 saves for the United States, which advanced to the gold medal game of the World Juniors for the second straight year. The U.S. will seek a seventh tournament championship and a chance at winning back-to-back titles for the first time when it plays Finland in the gold medal game at Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday (7:30 p.

Kelowna Rockets forward Jakub Stancl scored the lone goal for Czechia as the Americans took a 4-1 decision and moved on to the gold medal game. Adam Jecho and Miroslav Holinka (Edmonton Oil Kings) combined for three shots, and had some good looks throughout the night.

The Americans avenged a 4-3 overtime loss to Finland in group play, overcoming a two-goal deficit in the second period to win their second straight junior worlds title and seventh overall.

Teddy Stiga’s OT goal means the U.S. will be defending back-to-back titles when the tournament is played in the Twin Cities in 2026.

He ended it bathed in glory with a gold medal hanging from his neck. The 18-year-old forward scored at 8:04 of overtime as the United States battled back from a 3-1 deficit late in the second period to defeat Finland 4-3 and secure the country's second straight world junior hockey championship Sunday.