US beats Sweden 3-1 in final to win junior ice hockey world championships

The Associated Press

UFA, Russia - The United States won the junior ice hockey championships on Saturday after Rocco Grimaldi scored twice and Vince Trocheck added an empty-net goal to clinch a 3-1 win over Sweden in the final.

Filip Sandberg put defending champion Sweden ahead on power play early in the second period, but Grimaldi then scored twice in a three-minute span to swing the game in the Americans' favour. He powered from behind the net to score an equalizer from a narrow angle, and then redirected Jacob Trouba's slap shot from the blue line midway through second period.

Sweden pulled its goalie for an extra player with 1:42 left but failed to capitalize. Instead, Trocheck rounded off the win with 16.7 seconds left.

John Gibson made 26 saves for the victory and was named the MVP of the tournament.