International Olympic Committee

30 January 2024 –  The young men’s Ice hockey team of Team USA have reached the final of the Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024 with a thrilling 6-5 shootout victory over old rivals Canada.

The USA’s under-16 team has a chance to win gold at a Winter Youth Olympic Games for a second time, having beaten Canada in the final at Lillehammer 2016. Canada’s wait for gold will continue.

One of Team USA’s heroes was captain Parker Trottier, the 15-year-old grandson of NHL legend Brian Trottier Sr, who scored two goals. The Canada team featured 15-year-old Markus Ruck but his twin brother Liam was ruled out for this match.

After a goalless first period the game erupted into life at the start of the second with five goals, the first by Trottier. Alessandro di Iorio levelled for Canada within forty seconds, but JP Hurlbert and Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll quickly gave USA a 3-1 lead. Zachary Nyman hit back for Canada in a match that was living up to expectations between the great rivals.

Mathis Preston scored twice for Canada in the final period with Trottier’s second goal in between. Mikey Berchild put Team USA in front yet again but Nyman scored with two minutes remaining to tie the match at 5-5 and force a dramatic shootout.

Hurlbert scored the opening goal of the shootout and it turned out to be the only penalty scored, with Canada missing all three of their attempts. Team USA goalkeeper Xavier Wendt made two saves including the final penalty from Nyman.

Team USA will now play Czechia in the men’s final on Wednesday (Jan 31,20:00 KST) a day on which all Ice hockey medals for men and women will be decided. Czechia beat Finland 3-1 in the other men’s semi-final at the Gangneung Hockey Centre.

The Winter Youth Olympic Games is filmed for live television and digital streaming on the Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the Olympics app, with full session replays and highlights also available.