Rangers prospect Gabe Perreault leads United States into gold medal game at 2025 World Juniors
Gabe Perreault and the United states are one win away from consecutive gold medal victories at the World Junior Championship. After the New York Rangers prospect helped the U.S. capture gold at the 2024 World Juniors in Sweden, the 19-year-old forward had a goal and assist in their 4-1 semifinal victory against Czechia on Saturday in Ottawa at the 2025 WJC.
The United States plays Finland on Sunday night in the championship game (7:30 pm ET; NHLN). Finland advanced with a 4-3 overtime victory against arch rival Sweden in the semifinals. Finland also handed the U.S. (5-0-1-0) their only loss of the tournament, a 4-3 overtime decision in the preliminary round.
Should the United States win, it would mark the first time they won consecutive World Junior Championships.
Perreault and fellow 2023 Rangers draft pick Drew Fortescue each played on the gold medal-winning team in 2024 and have big roles on the current squad. Perreault, a 19-year-old forward, is tied for the tournament lead with nine points (three goals, six assists). He is one off the assists lead.
Last year, Perreault had 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in seven WJC games.
Fortescue doesn’t have a point in the 2025 World Junior tournament, but the shutdown defenseman logged a game-high 24:37 TOI against Czechia and is an invaluable member of Team USA.
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Gabe Perreault of Rangers named U.S. player of the game against Czechia
Perreault opened the scoring Saturday, finishing a gorgeous rush up ice with Ryan Leonard, his teammate and linemate at Boston College. Leonard’s extra-effort burst and pass from his knees set up Perreault cutting to the net. From there, the Rangers top prospect displayed his silky mitts to slip the puck into the cage just 3:14 into play.
Perreault returned the favor at 15:33 of the third period, setting up Leonard for a pretty goal 2-on-1 down low that made it 3-1. At the end of the night, Perreault was selected as the U.S. player of the game.
Perreault’s production has taken a jump in the playoff round, showing yet again that he is a big-game player. Perreault had two goals and two assists in four prelim games. He was held off the score sheet in a win against Canada and the loss to Finland.
But in the quarterfinals and semifinals, he has five points (goal, four assists) in two games.
Let’s see what Perreault has in store Sunday evening. And after that, a chase at the NCAA title with BC, and perhaps time to turn pro with the Rangers in the spring.
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