United States’ Jeremy Swayman saves during the final match between United States and Switzerland at the ice hockey world championships in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Nearly five days removed from the most sterling performance of his hockey career, the reverberations are still hitting Jeremy Swayman in waves.

Swayman, who was born and grew up in Anchorage, was a sensation in net for Team USA during the IIHF Men’s World Championship.

Swayman finished 7-0 with a .921 save percentage in the tournament and earned a shutout Sunday to vault the U.S. to a 1-0 overtime gold-medal victory over Switzerland. It was the first time an American team had earned gold in the tournament in 92 years.

“You understand how amazing is to win a championship at the world stage, but then you realize all the history and how it’s been so hard for us to finally pull through, and all the challenges and close games,” he said. “It’s pretty surreal, when you think about it, to be a part of the team that finally overcame the curse.”

Swayman, who spends most of his year as the starting goalie for the NHL’s Boston Bruins, said the tournament left him feeling like a new goalie and, in some respects, a new man.

“I think the biggest thing is just gaining experience, and I proved to myself that I could do it,” Swayman said. “I could finally win a championship and say that I’m a champion and know what it takes to be a champion at the global stage. So that was a big piece for me that just lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.”

Team USA poses after winning the final match between United States and Switzerland at the ice hockey world championships in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

While he has a deep run into the NHL’s Stanley Cup Finals high on his priority list, the 26-year-old said the World Championship gold medal is “a special win” in his young career.

“I’d probably say it tops them all right now,” he said. “I think as bad as I want to be playing in the NHL playoffs, this is a pretty close second to that.”

Swayman said he has received dozens of texts from friends, family, former teammates and coaches. Among them was a player who became a legend wearing the Team USA jersey.

United States goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman makes a save against the Czech Republic during a Group B match at the hockey world championships, Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Herning, Denmark. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Mike Eruzione was captain of the American team that defeated the Soviet Union during the 1980 Olympics in the famed “Miracle on Ice” game.

“I got to know him a few years back at some golf tournaments,” Swayman said. “He was super excited. Obviously, one of the best that ever played in the USA jersey. The hockey world is such a small world and it’s amazing that the guys will reach out that absolutely, really care about this.”

Washington Capitals left wing Pierre-Luc Dubois (80) attempts to score as Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) and Boston Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke (52) defend during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

Swayman’s last year has been a rollercoaster ride. Prolonged contract negotiations between Swayman and the Bruins pushed into training camp last fall. Swayman signed an eight-year, $66 million contract just before the regular season started. His season had plenty of ups and downs, and the Bruins failed to reach the playoffs.

From the time the season ended to the start of the World Championship tournament, Swayman took time to reflect and recharge.

“Right after the season, I really tried to take time and debrief,” he said. “You know, when you’re in the season, it’s just so hard to stop. … The NHL is such a demanding schedule, so as soon as you’re thinking about one thing, you already have to be thinking about the next, because nobody else is stopping for you.”

United States’ goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman saves in front of Switzerland’s Nino Niederreiter during the final match between United States and Switzerland at the ice hockey world championships in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Swayman said that even as he faced adversity during the season, he tried to think of it as something he is adding to his experience bank that will make him better in the future.

“I just felt so refreshed going in there, meeting new guys, all the staff and obviously having a chance to have meaningful games in late May, which is really hard to do in the professional world,” he said.

While Swayman was the U.S. team’s rock between the pipes, Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson was the offensive hero of the gold-medal game.

USA’s Tage Thompson, who scored the only goal during overtime, holds the trophy after the Hockey World Championship gold medal match between Switzerland and USA at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday May 25, 2025. (Magnus Lejhall/Keystone via AP)

Thompson notched the overtime goal in their championship win over Switzerland. While Thompson was born in Phoenix, he did play in Anchorage while his dad, Brent, coached the Alaska Aces from 2009 to 2011.

His teammate during those year? Swayman, who played in Anchorage as a youth and at South High before starring at Maine.

“We’ve got to share some pretty special moments together,” Swayman said. “And now being in the NHL together, it’s even cooler. You know, a couple kids from Alaska. We always laugh, he’s not from Alaska. But still, once you’re an Alaska hockey player, you always are.”