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2025 IIHF World Junior Championship

USA Rolls Over Switzerland 7-2 To Advance To World Juniors Semifinal

USA Rolls Over Switzerland 7-2 To Advance To World Juniors Semifinal

USA rolled past Switzerland with Ryan Leonard and James Hagens both scoring twice. Chris Peters breaks down what we learned from the win.

Jan 2, 2025 by Chris Peters
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OTTAWA – USA is through the semifinals for the eighth time in 10 years at the World Junior Championship. The Americans cruised past Switzerland in a 7-2 quarterfinal that saw captain Ryan Leonard (WSH) and James Hagens (2025) each score twice in the contest.

This wasn’t the kind of game where there was much for us to learn about the Americans that we didn’t already know. It was valuable, however, for USA to get its top line on the score sheet more, to get some looks for their power play and to get through the game cleanly.

The Americans went back to goalie Hampton Slukynsky (LAK) for his second start of the tournament, but Trey Augustine (DET) will very likely get the semifinal and gold-medal game.

Now USA awaits the results of the next two quarterfinal games as the tournament re-seeds for the semifinals.

Team USA Scoring Summary

Goal Scorers: James Hagens (2025) x 2, Ryan Leonard (WSH) x 2, Brandon Svoboda (SJS), Danny Nelson, Zeev Buium (MIN) 

Key Stats

  • 7-for-21: USA’s Power Play has scored on a third of its chances in this tournament including two of three power plays against Switzerland.
  • 86.7%: Danny Nelson’s (NYI) faceoff success rate on 15 draws over the course of the game.
  • 7: Total points scored by USA’s BC3 line with James Hagens and Ryan Leonard scoring twice and Gabe Perreault (NYR) picking up three assists.

What We Learned From USA’s 7-2 Win

The Top Line Got Cooking Again

USA’s top line hadn’t hit the scoresheet in either of USA’s last two games against tougher opponents. While I wouldn’t get too excited about blowing out Switzerland, getting them back into their rhythm is important.

Ryan Leonard was a constant target all game and simply kept playing. He also took a puck off the nose in the game, but never came out. It was a physical game, but he got things revved up and scored twice in the game.

Hagens looked fantastic on both of this goals, especially the first, which came early in the game. Meanwhile, Gabe Perreault looked like he was feeling it more. He was making quick, good decisions with the puck and made a lot of nice overall plays when under pressure. When that line is cooking, they are impossible to stop.

Moore-Nelson-Ziemer Is A Great Line

USA’s best line configuration in the tournament to date is the one with Oliver Moore (CHI) on left wing, Danny Nelson (NYI) at center and Brodie Ziemer (BUF) on the right. They’re all Minnesota-born guys and they are playing with speed, with skill and with relentlessness. 

Moore had two assists. Ziemer had two assists and Nelson had a goal. It’s been an especially effective trio and the line David Carle likes to use to set the tone for his team. They’ll start the most important games and they continue to be a force every time they hit the ice.

USA Awaits Its Opponent

USA is through to the semis for the eighth time in 10 years. The level of consistency that the U.S. has brought to the World Juniors over that last decade is something we’ve never seen. They also won their group for a record fifth straight year. 

Anything less than semis should be unacceptable as it is, but this team now has a realistic shot at winning a second straight gold medal.

Now they have to wait to see who they’ll play. If Canada beats Czechia, they’ll play Sweden and USA would get Finland for a second game in this tournament. If Czechia wins, USA will play them in Saturday’s semifinal. 

Now the Americans get a day of rest and regardless of who they play next, their chance at making history is now a step closer.

Notable Players In USA's Win Over Switzerland

Ryan Leonard, RW (WSH)

Leonard took a beating in the game, but dished it out, too. He’s become the most hated man in Ottawa, getting booed all the time. But more importantly, he’s kept his cool for the most part. David Carle shouted that out after the game in terms of how he’s grown and matured from how hard he’s been played in this tournament.

Leonard scored twice, first on an unassisted rush that looked like dozens of goals he’s scored over the last two years. He had hit so many posts and had been unlucky in the games to date. If he’s really heating up, watch out.

Oliver Moore, C/W (CHI)

Moore’s speed is such a factor. He created two goals off the rush and just absolutely zoomed past the defense. His skating is such a weapon. He’s had trouble finishing, which is not a new thing for him, but he came up big with two assists and a lot of dangerous plays in this game.

Zeev Buium, D (MIN)

Buium played just over 20 minutes and was super effective in the game. He scored a goal and had an assist on top of that. His defensive play in this tournament has been exemplary. His offense has suffered a bit because of it. He’s USA’s most critical defenseman and has gotten better as the tournament has worn on.

2025 Full World Junior Championship Schedule

Thursday, Jan. 2 

  • Quarterfinal: Sweden, 3 vs Latvia, 2
  • Quarterfinal: USA, 7 vs Switzerland, 2
  • Quarterfinal: Finland vs Slovakia, TD Place, 5:00 p.m. ET
  • Quarterfinal: Czechia vs Canada, Canadian Tire Centre, 7:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, Jan. 4

  • Semifinal: Canadian Tire Centre, 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Semifinal: Canadian Tire Centre, 7:30 p.m. ET

Sunday, Jan. 5

  • Bronze Medal game: Canadian Tire Centre, 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Gold Medal game: Canadian Tire Centre, 7:30 p.m. ET

Follow FloHockey's Coverage Of Team USA At The WJC

FloHockey is providing comprehensive editorial and video coverage of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. With a team of content creators on site and leading WJC analyst Chris Peters providing stories and columns throughout the event, make FloHockey your home to learn more about the 2025 World Juniors. FloHockey will be following Team USA and Team Canada closely, while tracking the rest of the tournament on site. See all the stories here.

How To Watch The 2025 World Junior Championship

The 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship will air on TSN and RDS on television in Canada. The tournament will be streamed on TSN+ in Canada, as well. 

In the United States, NHL Network will be the television home of the World Junior Championship. Streaming information for USA is not currently available.

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