2025 Draft: WJSS Day 2 Recap (USA-Blue 5, Finland 3)
Hensler makes his presence felt; Hagens scores the eventual game-winner on the power play
NASHVILLE (The Draft Analyst) — Brodie Ziemer brought his workmanlike effort to the under-20 World Junior Summer Showcase by scoring a pair of first-period goals to lead Team USA-Blue to a 5-3 victory over Finland on Monday afternoon. The recent third-round draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres opened the scoring in the middle of the first period by banking home the puck off of goalie Veeti Louhivaara from behind the Finland net. Ziemer would add his second during a late power play when he positioned himself in front of the net to redirect a centering feed from A.J. Spellacy. Brandon Svoboda added three assists and the Americans received additional markers from Ryan Leonard, James Hagens, and Joey Willis for leads of 4-0 and 5-1 before allowing the Finns to score twice to cut it to 5-3 with over 15 minutes left in the third period. Team USA-Blue would eventually hang on thanks to the goaltending of Sam Hillebrandt, who relieved stater Hampton Slukynsky midway through the second period and stopped 13 of 15 shots, including 10 of 11 in the third period when Finland intensified its efforts. Sebastian Soini, Tom Leppa, and Topias Hynninen scored for the Finns, which fell to 0-2-0 after dropping the opener to Team USA-White on Sunday.