BC's Stiga scores on OT breakaway to give US 2nd straight world junior title, 4-3 over Finland

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Teddy Stiga scored on a breakaway at 8:04 of 3-on-3 overtime to give the United States a 4-3 victory over Finland on Sunday night in the world junior hockey championship game.

The Boston College winger — a healthy scratch at the start of the tournament — collected a forward pass from Denver's Zeev Buium and beat goalie Petteri Rimpinen through the leg pads to end it.

“You got to find a role,” Stiga said. “Trying to do what I could do best to help the team win. It wasn’t always points and scoring. Being able to top it off with one there was pretty cool.”

The Americans avenged a 4-3 overtime loss to Finland in group play, overcoming a two-goal deficit in the second period to win their second straight title and seventh overall.

“Dynasty … it’s sick,” said Ryan Leonard, the U.S. captain from BC who was the tournament MVP. “There’s no better feeling. We wanted to do something that’s never been accomplished. It’s crazy.”

Boston University teammates Brandon Svoboda and Cole Hutson scored late in the second period to tie it. Svoboda cut it to 3-2 with 2:22 left on a deflected shot, and Hutson fired a wrist shot from the slot past Rimpinen with 29 seconds remaining.

“Pure joy for the guys,” coach David Carle of Denver said. “It’s all worth it. ... I’m really proud. They’ll walk together forever.”

Michigan State’s Trey Augustine made 21 saves.

“They played really well, but we stuck with it,” Augustine said. “We were down 3-1, which isn’t ideal, but we capitalized in overtime. It’s unbelievable. There’s no better feeling. They took it to us in the first period, but the last 40 and overtime, we handled the play.”

Tuomas Uronen gave Finland a 2-1 lead with 6:57 left in the first period, 59 seconds after Boston College’s James Hagens tied it for the United States. Emil Pieniniemi made it 3-1 at 4:52 of the second.

Jesse Kiiskinen opened the scoring at 7:13.

“We kept just growing up day-by-day,” Finnish captain Aron Kiviharju said. “We were really close to getting the most shining medal. Not this time, but I’m really proud of everybody on this team.”

In the third-place game, Eduard Sale scored in the 14th round of a shootout to give Czechia a 3-2 victory over Sweden on Sunday in the third-place game at the world junior hockey championship. The Czech captain beat Marcus Gidlof on his fifth attempt — and 28th between the teams — with a move to the backhand.

The 2026 tournament will be in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.

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United States players pose for a group photo with the trophy following their IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game win over Finland, in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

United States players reach for the trophy following their IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game win over Finland, in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

United States’ forward Teddy Stiga (2) scores the game-winning goal on Finland goaltender Petteri Rimpinen (30) to end overtime the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Finland forward Kasper Halttunen (22) with teammates Jesse Nurmi (24) and Kalle Kangas (3) react after their overtime loss to the United States in the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

United States forward Ryan Leonard (9) hoists the trophy following their IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game win over Finland in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

United States players pose for a group photo with the trophy following the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game win over Finland, in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

United States players celebrate after their overtime win over Finland in the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Finland defenseman Mitja Jokinen (2) takes down United States forward Trevor Connelly (19) in front of Finland goaltender Petteri Rimpinen, top, during first-period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Finland goaltender Petteri Rimpinen (30) makes a save against United States forward James Hagens (12) during third-period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Finland goaltender Petteri Rimpinen (30) makes a save against United States forward Ryan Leonard (9) during third-period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Finland players react following their overtime loss in the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game against the United States in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Finland defenseman Aron Kiviharju (33) consoles Finland goaltender Petteri Rimpinen (30) following their overtime loss to the United States in the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Finland players react following their overtime loss in the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game against the United States in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Finland goaltender Petteri Rimpinen, right, makes a save against United States forward Ryan Leonard during third-period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

United States players celebrate after their overtime win over Finland in IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

USA forward Teddy Stiga (2) celebrates scoring the game-winning goal on Finland goaltender Petteri Rimpinen (30) to end overtime IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Czechia forward Eduard Sale (12) celebrates his game-winning goal with teammate Czechia forward Jakub Stancl (21) as they win the World Junior hockey championship bronze medal penalty shot shootout against Sweden, in Ottawa, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Czechia players touch the trophy after they defeated Sweden to take the World Junior Hockey Championship bronze medal in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Czechia forward Eduard Sale (12) scores the game-winning goal against Sweden goaltender Marcus Gidlof (1) to win the World Junior hockey championship bronze medal penalty shot shootout, in Ottawa, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

United States forward James Hagens (12) gets high-fives from the bench after scoring against Finland during first-period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Finland defenseman Emil Pieniniemi (10) fires the puck over United States goaltender Trey Augustine (1) during first-period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

United States defenseman Cole Hutson (24) celebrates after his goal as he skates past Finland forward Jesse Kiiskinen (38) during second-period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Finland forwards Topias Hynninen (21) and Benjamin Rautiainen (37) fight United States defenseman Aram Minnetian (14) and forward Brandon Svoboda (8) for the puck during second-period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Finland goaltender Petteri Rimpinen (30) looks on as teammate Emil Hemming (32) controls the puck away from United States forward Ryan Leonard (9) during third-period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Finland defenseman Aron Kiviharju (33) blocks a shot against teammate Petteri Rimpinen (30) as United States forward Brandon Svoboda (8) and Max Plante (22) rush the net during third -period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation after facing an increasing loss of support both within his party and in the country.

Now Trudeau's Liberal Party must find a new leader while dealing with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's threats to impose steep tariffs on Canadian goods and with Canada's election just months away.

Trudeau said Monday he plans to stay on as prime minister until a new party leader is chosen.

He could not recover after Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, long one of his most powerful and loyal ministers, resigned from the Cabinet last month.

Trudeau, the 53-year-old scion of Pierre Trudeau, one of Canada’s most famous prime ministers, became deeply unpopular with voters over a range of issues, including the soaring cost of food and housing as well as surging immigration.

A new Canadian leader is unlikely to be named before Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20.

The political upheaval comes at a difficult moment for Canada. Trump keeps calling Canada the 51st state and has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods if the government does not stem what Trump calls a flow of migrants and drugs into the U.S. — even though far fewer of them cross the border from Canada than from Mexico, which Trump has also threatened with tariffs.

Trump also remains preoccupied with the U.S. trade deficit with Canada, erroneously calling it a subsidy. Canada’s ambassador to Washington, Kirsten Hillman, has said the U.S. had a $75 billion trade deficit with Canada last year. But she noted that a third of what Canada sells to the U.S. are energy exports and that there is a deficit when oil prices are high.

If Trump applies tariffs, a trade war looms. Canada has vowed to retaliate.

The Liberals need to elect a new leader before Parliament resumes March 24 because all three opposition parties say they will bring down the Liberal government in a no-confidence vote at the first opportunity, which would trigger an election. The new leader might not be prime minister for long.

A spring election would very likely favor the opposing Conservative Party.

It’s not often that central bank governors get compared to rock stars. But Mark Carney, the former head of the Bank of Canada, was considered just that in 2012 when he was named the first foreigner to serve as governor of the Bank of England since it was founded in 1694. The appointment of a Canadian won bipartisan praise in Britain after Canada recovered faster than many other countries from the 2008 financial crisis. He gained a reputation along the way as a tough regulator.

Few people in the world have Carney’s qualifications. He is a highly educated economist with Wall Street experience who is widely credited with helping Canada dodge the worst of the 2008 global economic crisis and helping the U.K. manage Brexit. Carney has long been interested in entering politics and becoming prime minister but lacks political experience.

Freeland is also a front-runner. Trudeau told Freeland last month he no longer wanted her to serve as finance minister but that she could remain deputy prime minister and the point person for U.S.-Canada relations. An official close to Freeland said Freeland couldn’t continue serving as a minister knowing she no longer enjoyed Trudeau's confidence. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. The person added it's far too early to make declarations but said Freeland would talk to her colleagues this week and discuss next steps.

After she resigned, Trump called Freeland “totally toxic" and "not at all conducive to making deals." Freeland is many things that would seem to irritate Trump: a liberal Canadian former journalist. She is a globalist who sits on the board of the World Economic Forum. Freeland, who is of Ukrainian heritage, also has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Another possible candidate is the new finance minister, Dominic LeBlanc. The former public safety minister, and a close friend of Trudeau, LeBlanc recently joined the prime minister at a dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. LeBlanc was Trudeau's babysitter when Trudeau was a child.

Recent polls suggest the Liberals' chances of winning the next election look slim. In the latest poll by Nanos, the Liberals trail the opposition Conservatives 47% to 21%.

“Trudeau’s announcement might help the Liberals in the polls in the short run and, once a new leader is selected, things could improve further at least for a little while but that would not be so hard because, right now, they’re so low in the polls,” said Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal.

“Moreover, because Trudeau waited so long to announce his resignation, this will leave little time to his successor and the party to prepare for early elections,” Béland said.

Many analysts say Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre will form the next government. Poilievre, for years the party’s go-to attack dog, is a firebrand populist who blamed Canada’s cost of living crisis on Trudeau. The 45-year-old Poilievre is a career politician who attracted large crowds during his run for his party's leadership. He has vowed to scrap a carbon tax and defund the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes an announcement outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

FILE - Mark Carney, who has served as the governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, speaks at the Sustainable Finance conference, Nov. 28, 2024. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

FILE - President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pose for a photo as Trudeau arrives at the White House in Washington, on Oct. 11, 2017. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

FILE - Minister of International Trade Chrystia Freeland gives Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a hug after being sworn in during ceremonies at Rideau Hall, on Nov. 4, 2015, in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

FILE - Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau speaks to supporters during a campaign stop in Toronto on Aug. 17, 2015. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press via AP, File)