CAMROSE, Alta. – It doesn’t get much sweeter than scoring the game-winning goal when a gold medal is on the line.
Finn McLaughlin knows a thing or two about that.
As Sweden pressed for a heroic third-period comeback in the finals of the World Junior A Challenge on Sunday (Dec. 15), the 18-year-old defenceman from Canmore and captain of Team USA, didn’t allow that to happen.
McLaughlin took matters into his own hands and impressively broke open a tie game with 7:14 remaining on the clock.
“It was kind of unreal being in that moment and then scoring the game winner for the gold medal was huge. It’s something you dream of when you’re a little kid,” said McLaughlin, a dual Canada-U.S. citizen.
“I was just so excited. I saw it go in and I just hit a celly … putting in that goal made a big difference for us in the last couple minutes of the game.”
The goal was a thing of beauty. With friends and family in the stands, McLaughlin beat a defender at the blue line and had open ice to walk in and attack Swedish goalie’s Love Härenstam’s net.
USA scored twice more to take a 7-4 victory at the tournament, featuring some of the best junior A players in the world.
It was the USA's 10th gold medal at the tournament.
Although things could have turned around very quickly in the game, with Sweden gaining tons of momentum. In the third period, USA’s two goal lead evaporated as Sweden scored goals from Jakob Ihs Wozinak and Ivar Stenberg to start the late rally, tying the game with less than 10 on the clock.
Knowing the Swedes boasted a strong roster, McLaughlin said his team knew they were going to push back eventually. Known for having a high hockey IQ and an impressive offensive touch, McLaughlin shined in the biggest moment of his young career, showing that he was deserving of the “C” entrusted to him.
“Going into that shift, I was just kind of like, ‘alright, I need to get something going here’ and try and help the team,” he said.
“Being the captain on that team, you’re kind of looked upon by the rest of the team and you kind of have to set the tone for games and it led to that moment where I had the opportunity to put us one by one and get the game winner.”
He said it was the best goal he’s ever scored.
Team USA was made up of all the best players in the USHL – McLaughlin plays for the 2023-24 Clark Cup champion Fargo Force.
This year’s Junior A Challenge was played between four teams in Camrose, Alta.: Canada East, Canada West, Sweden and the United States. It’s an opportunity for the top Junior A players to showcase their stuff and get noticed by scouts.
In the bronze medal game, Canada West defeated Canada East 5-2.
Two Canmore Eagles were on the Canada West roster: goaltender Hudson Sedo and forward Zach Coutu.
Coutu, 19, was added as a late replacement following an injury to forward Teague McAllister. He played in four games and didn’t record any points.
Coutu said it was an unfortunate injury for his teammate, but the experience he was granted was “pretty amazing.”
“You always dream as a kid to throw on the Maple Leaf and wear the Maple Leaf for a couple games and obviously to top off the whole tournament, we won bronze,” said Coutu. “I think we deserved it after we didn’t have a great prelim or anything, but we really pulled it together and worked hard in that last game.”
Coutu said the team played the “western way” of hockey, displaying a quick and aggressive style on the ice.
“The stereotype you could say out west is that we’re tough here, so we wanted to stick to that and play some fast, hard, heavy hockey,” said Coutu.
Canada West found the back of the net first on the power player thanks to forward Ellis Mieyette, going up 1-0 after the first frame. In the second, Canada East responded when forward Park Forlin scored just as a Can West penalty expired. Later in the period, Can West took a commanding 3-1 lead after back-to-back goals from forward Keon Senft.
In the final period, the teams exchanged goals in the first five minutes; however, about half way through, Canada West sealed the deal with their fifth goal, scored by forward Garrett Thom.
Sedo, 18, who didn’t start in the bronze medal game, finished 0-3 in the tournament with a 6.89 goals against average and .804 save percentage.
Eagles head coach and general manager Andrew Milne said it is a tremendous experience to play at the international level.
“Short-term competition is so great for guys to learn and I think for us, that’s something they can bring back to our program,” said Milne.