Level Green's Brandon Svoboda helps United States win IIHF World Junior championship
Forward Brandon Svoboda, a native of Level Green, scored a goal for the United States in a 4-3 overtime victory against Finland in the championship game of the International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) World Championship tournament at the Canadian Tire Center in Ottawa.
This marked the first time in program history that the United States won gold in back-to-back tournaments. The last Pittsburgh-area players to win this tournament were forwards Riley Barber (Washington) and J.T. Miller (Coraopolis) as well as goaltender John Gibson (Whitehall) in 2013.
Svoboda’s goal came at the 37:38 mark in the second period and helped the United States come back from a 3-1 deficit.
Brandon Svoboda gets Team USA within one! @usahockey | @TerrierHockey | @SanJoseSharks | #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/yWNtynhUVY
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) January 6, 2025
A third-round draft pick (No. 71 overall) by the San Jose Sharks in 2023, Svoboda played in seven games during the tournament and scored six points (three goals, three assists) while averaging 11:08 of ice time per contest.
The 19-year-old Svoboda is a product of the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite youth program and is currently a freshman with Boston University. In 11 NCAA games this season, he has three goals.
Penguins defensive prospects Emil Pieniniemi and Kalle Kangas claimed silver medals while skating for Finland.
A third-round draft pick (No. 91 overall) in 2023, Pieniniemi scored Finland’s third goal of Sunday’s game at 24:52 of the second period.
More @KingstonFronts energy for Finland as Emil Pieniniemi buries a wrister to make it 3-1 in the gold medal game! ????????#WorldJuniors | #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/WwHmSyRdNs
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) January 6, 2025
The 19-year-old finished with three points (two goals, one assist) in six games over the tournament.
Kangas, 19, was a seventh-round draft pick (No. 223 overall) in 2023. He appeared in seven games during the tournament and recorded one assist.
Penguins forward prospect Tanner Howe and Canada finished in fifth place of the tournament after being eliminated in the quarterfinal round on Thursday.
A second-round draft pick (No. 46 overall) by the Penguins in 2024, Howe skated in five games during the tournament and scored one goal.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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