GOLD! USA Hockey takes fourth World Junior Title

Colin White scored his 10th goal in 14 career World Junior games, helping lead USA Hockey to its fourth ever WJC gold medal. The Americans tied Canada 4-4 on Thursday night, with White’s goal completing a dramatic comeback to force a shootout.

The US roared back from a pair of two goal deficits - 2-0 and 4-2. BU players accounted for the other US goals, with Kieffer Bellows scoring twice, and Charlie McAvoy uncorking a huge goal from the point to open the scoring for the Americans in the second period.

In the shootout, Troy Terry of Denver University repeated his heroics, becoming the only one of ten shooters to convert:

After Jeremy Bracco missed with a chance to put the shootout away in the fifth round, Tyler Parsons - quite possibly the hero on a team full of them - stonewalled Canada again, delivering the Americans their fourth ever World Junior title.

Boston College players have now been a part of all four USA hockey titles: Pat Eaves in 2004; Chris Kreider in 2010; Johnny Gaudreau’s unforgettable performance in 2013; and now, White, Casey Fitzgerald and Joe Woll in 2017. If we’re counting Jesper Mattila’s gold with Finland last year, that means 7 Eagles have won the most coveted award for U20 hockey players.

Following the game, Colin White spoke with NHL Network:

White will deservedly get most of the BC-related headlines, but Fitzgerald and Woll were major contributors to this championship as well. Fitzgerald was forced in to an even bigger role Thursday night, as were all American defensemen, due to the absence of Ryan Lindgren due to illness; Fitzgerald played huge minutes and was a steady presence in his own end and a force going forward for BC.

Joe Woll’s two wins in the group stage, topping Slovakia and Canada, helped set the table for the Americans to complete the tournament 7-0 - a rare and special feat.

A golden generation of American talent continues to develop, and almost all of it either has developed or is developing in college hockey. It’s truly a special time to be following American hockey, and the World Junior gold is something the entire community can celebrate before we go back to hating one another once the season gets back in gear (so, uh, tomorrow).

White, Woll, Fitzgerald and the Mattilas will rejoin their BC teammates now for the second semester. The Americans are likely available for Fenway based on previous years’ track record, though nobody could blame them if they want to seek out an extra week’s rest after playing 7 exhausting games in 11 days.

Congratulations to the Eagles and to all of the American players for bringing home gold!