TROIS-RIVIÈRES, Quebec – The U.S. Junior Select Team, helped by a pair of assists from Evan Jardine (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Youngstown Phantoms), captured the 2025 World Junior A Challenge championship with a 5-1 victory over Canada West here today at Colisée Vidéotron.
With the victory, Team USA captured its second-consecutive and 11th all-time World Junior A Challenge championship. The U.S. finished the tournament with a 4-0-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record.
“Winning gold is always special,” said Andy Brandt (Wausau, Wis.) head coach of the U.S. Junior Select Team. “I’m proud of our players and thankful for the staff and the group that put this team together. We’re proud to represent the USA as well as the USHL.”
Brent Solomon (Champlin, Minn./Sioux Falls Stampede) opened the scoring 1:47 into the contest, as he corralled a pass from Jardine, deked past Canadian netminder Luke McKechnie and tucked the puck home to put the U.S. ahead early.
Team USA took a 2-0 lead with 5:31 remaining in the first frame, as Masun Fleece (Rolling Hills, Calif./Dubuque Fighting Saints) tapped the puck in on a power-play, set up by an effort in front of the net by Jardine, who tallied his second assist of the game.