US Swis Downs, 2-1, nan World's Youth Prefer

St. Paul, Minnesota – Brody Seamer (Chaska, Minnesota/University of Minnesota) and Will Sellers (Maple Grove, Minnesota/University of North Dakota) each scored, Nick Kemp (Morton Grove, Illinois/University of Notre Dame) made 16 saves, and the U.S. Juniors defeated Switzerland 2-1. The 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship takes place tonight at Grand Casino Arena.

"It was a battle and I give our guys a lot of credit, they played a great game," said 2026 USA Junior National Team head coach Bob Motzko (St. Cloud, Minn./University of Minnesota). "They (Switzerland) are a well-coached team and they keep attacking you. It was another great crowd tonight and we're thankful for the fan support we've had in the first two games."

Teddy Stiga (Sudbury, Mass.) scored with 8:45 left in the first.

In the waning minutes of the opening frame, the U.S.Switzerland's power play featured two great shorthanded scoring opportunities, including Stiga, who accelerated from the neutral zone to create a 2-on-1 opportunity with Zimmer, but the five-hole shot was blocked.

Ziemer picked up right where he left off in the second going bar down off a drop pass from James Hagens (Hauppauge, N.Y./Boston College) just 1:12 into the period to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead.

Switzerland tied the match at 1:1 with 7:26 remaining.

Zellers scored the game-winner 2:06 later when he fired a shot from a tight angle just above the goal line over the shoulder of Swiss goalkeeper Christian Kirsch.

The American team again is back to snowing on Monday (Dec. 29) Each Slovakia for his first three-day games.Pack is scheduled for 5 p.m.CT and play is a living in NHLWROK.The Tickets are available.

NOTES: Brodie Zimmer was named Team USA's Player of the Year ... USA beat Switzerland 20-17 ... USA went 0-2 on the power play to 0-3 Switzerland.