A monumental matchup was happening in the 2025 World Juniors on Sunday. No, it didn't involve the Canadians, who watched their prime minister Justin Trudeau resign amid mounting pressure while their team was prematurely eliminated. Therefore, Mathieu Cataford isn't in this discussion.
Instead, it involved their southern neighbors, the United States of America, against Finland. Would the good ol' U.S.A. deliver an All-American beatdown courtesy of Uncle Sam? Or would Finland unleash their Viking powers and destroy some bald eagles?
Better yet, who would win between two prospects for the Vegas Golden Knights? On one hand, you had a controversial California kid named Trevor Connelly playing for the United States. The winger is playing for Providence College and was this year's first-round draft pick for the Golden Knights.
On the other hand you have Tuomas Uronen, a Finnish forward hailing from Kerava. The 19-year-old was selectd as the 192nd overall pick (sixth round) in the 2023 NHL Draft, providing the Golden Knights with another goal-scoring winger. He gave fans with an excellent counterpart to Connelly's controversial figure, leading the underdog team of Finland to victory.
But who would win in this colossal matchup between two of Vegas's brightest stars? Would it be Connelly, who was looking to add another notch under his belt? Or would it be the quiet Uronen, who was hoping for another exciting chapter in his underdog story? The anticipation was killing Golden Knights fans, who wanted an exciting matchup between both teams. Here's what went down in Sunday's contest.
Who won in the 2025 World Juniors? Trevor Connelly or Tuomas Uronen?
The United States won a close contest, 4-3, behind Teddy Stiga's overtime winner. This was the second straight World Juniors Championship won by America, proving they're becoming a superpower for young hockey talent. The leading scorers were Ryan Leonard (five goals, five assists), James Hagens (five goals, four assists), and Gabe Perreault (three goals, seven assists).
Trevor Connelly was surprisingly anonymous in the Gold Medal game. He didn't have a goal or assist in the contest despite the United States winning the tournament. Overall, the first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft scored a goal and three assists for Team USA. However, the Finnish counterpart from the Vegas Golden Knights did contribute a goal in the Gold Medal game...
FINLAND LEADS AGAIN 🚨
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 6, 2025
Tuomas Uronen beats Augustine clean. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/hz3CPtL6Ef
The sixth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft fired a blazing wrister in transition past goaltender Trey Augustine, giving Finland the lead. The Finnish forward showcased his blazing speed and gave proof that he'd be an excellent running mate to players like Brett Howden. Keeping a defensive-minded team in the game with quick skating and a hard shot?
"Sign me up!" -Kelly McCrimmon, probably.
Overall, Uronen had two goals and an assist during the entire tournament. He was one of the key offensive weapons for Finland alongside Konsta Helenius (six assists) and Jesse Kiiskinen (six goals, one assist). Although the Finnish team didn't have much offensive bite during the 2025 World Juniors (fifth in scoring efficiency), Uronen's contributions got them to the Gold Medal game.
This year's World Juniors showcase gave McCrimmon and crew a look at what both prospects can offer in the future. The Golden Knights will have a dynamic two-way forward in Connelly who can run an offense efficiently. They also have a quick Finnish forward who's a nightmare in transition, firing off blistering shots past any unfortunate goaltender. But now's the time for Connelly to celebrate. Siri, cue up "Free Bird" by Lynard Skynard.