Team USA dominated Team Canada 7-2 on the final day of World Junior Summer Showcase action.
What began as a hesitant first period with both teams feeling each other out quickly erupted into a shooting gallery for the rest of the game.
The first goal came shortly after the first intermission when Sammy Nelson stole the puck and took off to the races, beating Lukas Beckman low glove side for the shorthanded tally.
Canada responded quickly. Ethan Belchetz forced an offensive zone turnover, then fired it home to tie the game 1-1.
Minutes later, following a dominant shift that included a breakaway attempt, Cole Reschny was rewarded when his shot deflected off teammate Dima Zhilkin and in to give Canada a 2-1 lead.
Then the USA rallied back, scoring 4 unanswered goals to close out the second period. Ethan Wyttenbach potted 2 back-to-back goals in tight, one of which was on the power play. Then Sean Barnhill scored from long distance on a seeing-eye shot before Brooks Rogowski showed off his speed going end to end and blasting one blocker side to beat Lukas Beckman.
The Americans didn’t slow down in the third. Wyatt Cullen picked up the period’s opening goal when a broken-up 2-on-1 pass bounced right back onto his stick. Blake Fiddler then capped off the scoring following an extended sequence of zone pressure in the Canadian end.
Team USA closed out the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase with an emphatic 7-2 victory over Canada.
Both teams will now shift their focus to Edmonton and Red Deer, where they’ll look to carry this momentum onto the podium in search of gold.
Standouts:
Carter Sanderson – Brooks Rogowski – Mason West (USA)
What’s the quote again? “All for one and one for all?” In all seriousness, what a standout performance from this entire unit. Setting the tone from the opening puck drop, they were physical, skilled, and relentless, helping Team USA find its offensive groove in the second period. The trio combined for five points while wearing down the Canadian defence all night.
Mikey Berchild – Wyatt Cullen – Ethan Wyttenbach (USA)
Again. This entire line has been exceptional all tournament long. While it remains to be seen if coaching keeps them together come December, this showcase proved the Americans have a legitimate top line capable of doing serious damage. Combining for another eight points tonight, they made a compelling case to stay intact for the main event.
Cole Reschny (Canada | Calgary Flames)
One of the few highlights for Canada, Reschny flashed his high-end skill during a dominant second-period shift, one of the best of the entire tournament. He split the defenders with speed to create a prime scoring opportunity before picking up an assist 30 seconds later, shooting it off Zhilkin and in. Reschny will need to be a major presence if Canada wants to succeed in Edmonton.