A Nation Rejoices: Team USA Crowned Ice Hockey World Champions

It was one of those nights that hockey fans will talk about for years. Under the bright lights of Stockholm’s Avicii Arena, with tension so thick you could feel it in your bones, Team USA did the unthinkable: they brought home their first on-ice ice hockey world championship in 92 years. And they did it in dramatic, storybook fashion.

Team USA Ends 92-Year Wait with Thrilling Overtime Win Over Switzerland

Tage Thompson, the Buffalo Sabres star forward, played the hero, scoring the golden goal just two minutes into overtime to lift the U.S. past a tough Switzerland squad, 1-0. As soon as the puck hit the back of the net, his teammates mobbed him, the bench cleared, and the long wait was finally over. You could almost hear an entire nation exhale.

Tage Thompson’s OT Heroics Deliver Historic Hockey Gold for USA

Thompson, coming off an impressive NHL season with 44 goals and 72 points, looked every bit the star. He buried the game-winner off a beautiful passing sequence from Utah’s Logan Cooley and Nashville’s Brady Skjei. His wrist shot sailed past Swiss goalie Leonardo Genoni, who had been a wall for most of the night.

It was a chess match of a game. Both teams played tight, structured hockey, refusing to give an inch. Team USA peppered Genoni with 40 shots but couldn’t crack him in regulation. On the other side, Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins stood tall, stopping all 25 shots he faced. The game was a goalie duel in every sense.

A Nation Rejoices: Team USA Crowned Ice Hockey World Champions

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But this win wasn’t just about the numbers or the trophy. It meant more. Much more. As the American players gathered for their championship photo at center ice, they raised a No. 13 jersey — Johnny Gaudreau’s number. The former NHL and Team USA forward had died tragically the previous August, struck by an allegedly drunk driver while cycling with his brother Matthew, the night before their sister’s wedding.

In the locker room, head coach Ryan Warsofsky didn’t hold back. “Johnny was f—— here, watching this one,” he told the team, his voice cracking. The clip, shared by USA Hockey online, went viral within hours. It was raw, real, and unforgettable.

Source: Team USA outlasts Switzerland, wins ice hockey world title

USA’s Emotional Victory Honors Johnny Gaudreau, Ends Nearly Century-Long Drought

For Thompson, this tournament was a chance to prove himself on the international stage. He didn’t play during the 4 Nations Face-Off in February, listed only as a reserve. But he made his time count in Stockholm, playing alongside a dynamic group of NHL forwards — many of whom had been knocked out of the Stanley Cup playoffs early or didn’t make it at all.

Swayman, who watched his Bruins teammate David Pastrnak win gold for the Czech Republic last year, was visibly emotional after the game. “We did it. The wait is over,” he said in a message to fans. “Thanks for riding with us. It’s going to be a summer to remember.”

Switzerland, to their credit, didn’t go down without a fight. Even without their star center and captain Nico Hischier, they played with heart and discipline. Genoni, who was named tournament MVP despite the loss, kept them alive time and again.

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A Nation Rejoices: Team USA Crowned Ice Hockey World Champions

From Tragedy to Triumph: Team USA Wins 2025 Ice Hockey World Title in Overtime

Team USA’s history at this tournament has been full of close calls and heartbreaks. While they were technically awarded the title in 1960 by winning the Olympics (which doubled as the world championship that year), they hadn’t earned it on the ice in a true standalone tournament since 1933. Sunday night changed all that.

Elsewhere, Sweden gave their fans something to cheer about, securing the bronze medal with a 6-2 win over Denmark. Mikael Backlund of the Calgary Flames and Marcus Johansson of the Minnesota Wild each scored twice. It marked Sweden’s second straight third-place finish. For Denmark, finishing fourth was their best showing ever — a proud moment for the growing hockey nation.

Looking ahead, this championship win could have ripple effects. Players like Thompson, Cooley, and Swayman made strong cases for spots on the 2026 U.S. Olympic team in Milan. Their poise, talent, and chemistry were on full display in Stockholm.

In the end, this was more than just a gold medal game. It was a moment of redemption, a tribute to a fallen teammate, and a reminder that sometimes, dreams do come true. For the players, the coaches, and the fans, it’s a memory that will last a lifetime.

Team USA: world champions — at last.