Team USA won its record-extending 10th championship at the World Junior A Challenge after defeating Sweden 7-4 in the final. The U.S. squad, entirely made up of USHL stars, handed Sweden its first loss of the tournament in the final game after scoring four goals in the third period to close in on the tournament title.

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Green Bay Gamblers forward Will Zellers (COL) scored twice in the championship game that was back and forth. Team USA scored four times in the third period, with Fargo Force forward Finn McLaughlin scoring what would stand as the game-winner midway through the frame.

Dubuque Fighting Saints forward Lucas Van Vliet (VGK) scored the game's first goal and was Team USA’s top scorer with 10 points in five games. 

Sweden 2026 NHL Draft-eligible forward Ivar Stenberg was the tournament’s top scorer with 11 points including a tournament-best seven goals.

Des Moines Buccaneers forward Ben Kevan, a 2025 NHL Draft-eligible skater, scored six goals in the tournament including five on the power play, which was a single-tournament record for power-play goals by an individual.

Van Vliet and Youngstown Phantoms defenseman Luke Osburn (BUF) led the tournament with seven assists apiece.

Madison Capitols goalie Caleb Heil, the only returnee from last year’s World Junior A Challenge team, led all goaltenders in the tournament with a .931 save percentage and 1.33 goals-against average. He had two shutouts over three games played.

For head coach Matt Smaby, he was able to improve on the team’s disappointing second-place finish at last year’s event while securing the 10th title at this event for the United States. 

Canada West, which had not won during the tournament until Sunday, earned a 5-2 win over Canada East in the third-place game. Sweden, which had its national Under-18 team featuring several top 2025 NHL Draft eligibles and had not lost a game in the tournament to date, settled for second with the loss to Team USA.

This year's World Junior A Challenge was a four-team tournament, with each team playing the others once in a preliminary round. The teams were then seeded in a semifinal round and the winners of those games advanced to the WJAC championship game.

USA's 10 championships are by far the most in the tournament's history. Canada West is the next closest with six tournament wins.

The USHL will return to action Dec. 27 after a short holiday break. See the full broadcast schedule here.

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