2026 World Juniors: Top standouts from Finland vs. USA quarterfinal game

After leading for the majority of the night, the United States is out of the 2026 World Junior Championship after losing to Finland 4-3 in overtime.

This marks the second straight year that the host team has been knocked out of the tournament in the quarterfinal, with Canada bowing out a year ago against Czechia.

Cole Hutson led the way for USA with a goal and an assist, with Cole Eiserman snagging USA’s second goal. The Finns got goals from Heikki Ruohonen, Leo Tuuva and Joona Saarelainen, with two goals in a minute span changing the entire scope of the game. But everything changed with under two minutes to go. Will Zellers would do an excellent job rushing between three Finnish opponents before getting taken down. From there, James Hagens found Ryker Lee in front, with USA scoring to force overtime.

Both teams had decent opportunities, but the Finns had more control. Arttu Valila woild score at 2:11 into the extra stanza, ending the game and securing the Finns yet another spot in the final four.

Here’s a look at the top performers from Friday night:

Finland

#30 Petteri Rimpinen, G (Los Angeles Kings): Rimpinen had to be excellent – again. The Finnish forwards were struggling to sustain pressure, and the defenders left Rimpinen out to dry a little too much. Rimpinen leaves a lot of the top of the net open (he’s not a big goalie), but he makes up for it by directing it away out of trouble at the last time. I love his glove hand and how he uses his shoulders to his advantage. If it wasn’t for Rimpinen’s massive showing in the third, the Finns were

#33 Aron Kiviharju, D (Minnesota Wild): What a game. Kiviharju was buzzing all over in the first half, and it was only a matter of time until he got on the scoresheet. His feed to Leo Tuuva was incredible – that’s the type of move very few defenders his age can pull off. Kiviharju has a good shot and he isn’t afraid to use it, but he has always been better as a distributor.

#22 Emil Hemming, LW (Dallas Stars): I thought Hemming was Finland’s best forward today. He kept buzzing early to get his team on the board, and he had an excellent chance in the third that rang off the post. He was playing with something to prove, which, given this was his last World Junior game, was definitely true. Hemming needed a bit more skill to play with, but I really liked how he consistently created scoring chances.

#23 Leo Tuuva, RW: I didn’t notice Tuuva much in the first 40. I definitely noticed him in the final 20. He scored the 2-2 goal and then found Joona Saarelainen in tight to make it 3-2. Tuuva has absolutely turned heads this week for his ability to sneak past defenders and create quality chances – and consecutive hot shifts changed the course of the game, for sure.

#28 Heikki Ruohonen, C (Philadelphia Flyers): Ruhonen was everywhere yet again. If you haven’t been paying close attention, he’s dominating the two-way game. His quick acceleration has come in handy, and his defensive game really helped the Finns survive without a few other goals against. I loved his goal to make it 1-1 – it woke them up, even though it didn’t work out in the end.

USA

#31 Nick Kempf, G (Washington Capitals): The Americans needed Kempf not to lose the game. He was good, even if he ultimately lost the game. I can’t tell you the last time I saw him in so control of his rebounds. He often gives up on bad bounces and then lacks the athleticism to make it work. Kempf was busy in the first period, and I felt that allowed him to gain his confidence and get into a rhythm.

#6 Adam Kleber, D (Buffalo Sabres): This was Kleber’s most incredible game. With Hutson by his side, Kleber could focus on getting the puck out of the zone and keeping things simple. Kleber is a big dude who gets in the way of pucks, hits hard and can shut down plays as well as anyone on this American team.

#44 Cole Hutson, D (Washington Capitals): What a difference getting Hutson back in the lineup did for this team. Last Saturday, he was carted off on a backboard after going unconscious following a blocked shot to the head. Today, he looked rested and at his absolute best. He tends to take over shifts and dominate the play better than any other defender at this tournament. USA is significantly better with Hutson in control. Oh, by the way: Hutson is now USA Hockey’s all-time leading scorer among blueliners at the World Junior Championship with 15 points.

#12 Will Zellers, LW (Boston Bruins): Even before he helped set up the tying goal, Zellers was USA’s best forward. He was promoted to the top line, where he seemed like a man on a mission with the way he continued to get puck on net. He’s so slippery, often beating opponents with his incredible footwork. Zellers has absolutely put himself on the map with his incredible play.

#34 Cole Eiserman, LW (New York Islanders): Eiserman was expected to be one of USA’s top players, but he was far too invisible before today. Everything changed when he received a pass from Hutson in the second – that confidence, that smile, it was back. It felt like an overall much-improved effort from Eiserman, who is used to scoring clutch goals for the Americans in big games.