USA wins gold at 2022 World Junior A Challenge

CORNWALL, Ont. – USA has won gold for a record ninth time at the World Junior A Challenge, beating Canada East on Sunday in Cornwall.

This is the first time since 2018 that USA won gold, with Russia winning the last one in 2019 before the next two were cancelled due to COVID-19. It’s Canada’s second consecutive silver medal after losing in Dawson Creek three years ago.

The Americans struck early, with Sam Harris sending a wrist shot past Ethan Morrow just three minutes in for the 1-0 goal. Near the end of the frame, Garry Schifsky’s knuckle puck beat Murray up high for the 2-0 goal, capping off a period that saw USA outshoot Canada 15-4.

A pair of goals by Canada in the second helped tie things up. After struggling in the first half, a breakaway goal by Matheson Mason at 29:48 and a second goal by Matthew Cato five minutes later tied the game up at two apiece.

Canada finally had its momentum, but it didn’t last long as Alex Bump scored to make it 3-2 on a 2-on-1 play just two minutes later. Ethan Whitcomb’s goal a minute later doubled the advantage, only to have Schifsky score an empty-netter in the final minute to finish off the game.

In the bronze medal game earlier in the afternoon, Sweden beat Canada West in the shootout for the team’s first-ever medal.