Team USA ended a 91-year wait for a gold medal at the IIHF World Championship on Sunday by beating Switzerland 1-0 in a thrilling overtime game. Tage Thompson scored the winning goal in sudden death, giving the United States a historic victory on the ice.
The U.S. has long been a major force in the NHL but struggled to win in international tournaments. Before this, their only standalone world championship gold was in 1933. For many years, Olympic winners were seen as world champions instead.
Forward Michael McCarron expressed how special the win felt. “This feels amazing,” he said. “It’s been so long since the U.S. won. I waited a while to wear this jersey again. To come back and win gold — it’s incredible.”
The match was tense and scoreless through regular time. Both teams showed strong defense and excellent goalkeeping. The game moved into a three-on-three overtime format, where Thompson’s goal finally broke the tie and sealed the win.
“Overtime is wild — anything can happen,” McCarron added. “Both teams played hard, and our goalie was outstanding. Luckily, we have some great shooters, and Tage came through when it counted.”
Many players were too focused on the moment to see the puck go in. “I didn’t even see it hit the net,” McCarron said. “I just heard the buzzer and jumped — I hoped it went in, and thank God it did.”
Drew O’Connor, who watched from the bench during the game-winner, described the tension. “It’s almost harder watching than playing,” he said. “Once you’re on the ice, instinct takes over. But on the bench, all you can do is hope.”
This victory marks a golden chapter for a new generation of American hockey players. The U.S. has not won Olympic gold since 1980, and none of the current players were born when the last IIHF world title was won.
With gold medals now around their necks, Team USA can celebrate a historic moment nearly a century in the making. The victory is sure to inspire young players across the country and bring new energy to the sport in the United States.