USA Hockey won Group A at the World Junior Championships with a three-goal victory over Canada during the last game of 2024. As is expected whenever these two North American rivals get together on the ice, things got chippy in a hurry between Luca Pinelli and Zeev Buium.
A brief dust-up carried over into the penalty box after both sides traded blows over a late hit!
World Juniors, for those who don’t know, is the annual international hockey tournament for players under the age of 20 years old. This year’s event will be played up until the Gold Medal Match on Jan. 5 in Ottawa, Canada. It was a sold-out matchup on New Year’s Eve at the Canadian Tire Centre, home of the Senators, and the crowd was absolutely rocking.
It is absolutely BUZZING at the Canadian Tire Centre for USA vs. Canada 🇺🇸🇨🇦
— BarDown (@BarDown) January 1, 2025
GOOSEBUMPS. pic.twitter.com/6VaxkBw2eB
However, fans of the home country were quickly silenced by an early goal during the first period.
USA Hockey is do or die!
Cole Hutson made it abundantly clear that he could not hear the crowd as soon as his shot went in. He took the energy right back out of the building with the early lead.
Cole Hutson with the "I can't hear you" celly after his goal 🥶#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/0QrTG8DkQG
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 1, 2025
Team USA never looked back. It scored three powerplay goals against an undisciplined Canadian side. Cole Eiserman skated right over to taunt the home bench after his crucial insurance goal.
Cole Eiserman with a taunt to Canada's bench after his insurance goal 👀#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/auFsnEx2s2
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 1, 2025
Tension was already high prior to that point. The hatred between these two border countries and their hockey teams is very real. Especially on the Juniors level.
USA goalie Trey Augustine, who stopped 38 of 39 shots in a 4-1 win, covered up a loose puck during the first period. Pinelli skated in late and was laid out by Buium. That did not go over well with the former. He started swinging at the latter as soon as he got back to his feet. Both guys threw a few punches so they both ended up in the penalty box, where the chirping continued.
Things are getting chippy between Canada and USA early!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/FHeIwBseaz
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 1, 2025
Team USA finished atop Group A with its rivalry win over Canada and will play Switzerland in the quarterfinals on Thursday. OH MAMA DON’T YOU CRY!