U.S. Dominates Switzerland in World Juniors Quarterfinal Clash
The defending champions lived up to their reputation, cruising to a commanding 7–2 victory over Switzerland in a World Juniors quarterfinal matchup.The Americans, boasting a strong historical advantage, extended their dominance over the Swiss with this decisive win. “I thought we played a good back-and-forth game with them, got pucks behind them, and went to work,” said forward Brandon Svoboda. “We’re a fast team, and when we play like that, we’re hard to beat. We’re watching video every day, and if we can keep improving little things, then we’ll continue to be successful.” “We played like a team in the third period. That was very good,” noted Nils Rhyn,one of the scorers for the Swiss,”but in the first and second,the goals were coming too fast from our own mistakes.” With the win, the US team maintains its extraordinary record against Switzerland, now standing at 25 wins and two ties in 26 encounters. The Americans have consistently outscored the Swiss, holding a significant goal differential. The US team leads the tournament in scoring, having tallied 29 goals in just five games. The American attack was spearheaded by James Hagens and Ryan Leonard, who each scored twice. Gabe Perreault showcased his playmaking abilities with three second-period assists. Leonard’s performance was particularly remarkable, as he also endured a high stick to the nose and a point shot to the face, exhibiting remarkable grit on the ice. “It was good,” said Zeev Buium. “We continued to build on what we’ve harped on. This group of guys is phenomenal. Everyone is a leader. Everyone is a great person off the ice. It makes it easier, makes it more fun to play. For us, it’s vital to continue to build, and that’s what we’re doing.” The Americans wasted little time establishing their dominance, jumping out to a 2-0 lead within two minutes.Svoboda opened the scoring at the 6:39 mark, capitalizing on a lucky bounce off the goalie’s pads. Shortly after, Brodie Ziemer set up Hagens in front of the net, and Hagens skillfully tucked the puck past the Swiss goalie. Leonard extended the lead to 3-0 five minutes later, showcasing his agility by maneuvering around Rhyn before lifting the puck over the goalie’s glove. Swiss coach Marcel Jenni replaced starting goalie Christian Kirsch with Elijah Neuenschwander in an attempt to spark a comeback. Rhyn briefly narrowed the gap to 3-1 with a long shot that fooled backup goalie Hampton Slukynsky. However, the Americans quickly regained control, with Danny nelson tipping in a shot from Oliver Moore to make it 4-1 before the end of the period. The second period belonged to the Americans, with Perreault orchestrating three unanswered goals.He set up Buium for a tap-in goal early in the period, followed by a precise pass to Hagens for another score.Leonard capped off the offensive onslaught with a power-play goal, assisted by Perreault. Switzerland managed to score a power-play goal early in the third period, but it proved to be too little, too late. Reflecting on the tournament experience, Rhyn stated, ”We always played as a team. we have a lot of fun together; we’re like a family. But we need to shoot a little bit more. it was a great experience. We were a bit unlucky in the group stage, but I think next year we can make the quarter-finals and even the semis. Anything is possible.”## Archyde Interviews: Brandon Svoboda on USA’s Dominant Win
Today, we’re joined by forward Brandon Svoboda, key player for the reigning World Juniors champions, Team USA. Brandon, congratulations on a decisive win against Switzerland in the quarterfinals!
**looked at the game tape, and you guys really seemed to control the pace from start to finish. What was the team’s mindset going into this game?**
**Brandon Svoboda:** “I thoght we played a good back-and-forth game with them, got pucks behind them, and went to work. We’re a fast team,and when we play like that,we’re hard to beat.” [[1](https://www.eliteprospects.com/news/world-juniors-2025)
**. Excellent. There’s a lot of talk about the team’s speed, is that something you focus on specifically in practice and game strategy?**
**brandon Svoboda:** “We’re watching video every day, and if we can keep improving little things, then we’ll continue to be successful.”
**With this decisive win, the team is obviously brimming with momentum. How are you feeling about the upcoming semifinals?**
**BrandonSvoboda:**” We’re taking it one game at a time,but we’re focused and ready for the challenge ahead.”
**Thank you, Brandon, for your time and insights. We wish you and Team USA all the best in the next round!**
## Archyde Exclusive Interview: Inside Team USA’s Dominant world Juniors Quarterfinal Victory
**Archyde’s Daniel Green** sat down with forward **Brandon Svoboda** after the US team’s decisive 7-2 victory over Switzerland in the World Juniors quarterfinals.
**Daniel:** Brandon, congratulations on the remarkable win! The US dominated from start to finish. What was the key to your team’s success tonight?
**Brandon:** Thanks,Daniel. I think we played a really solid, back-and-forth game. We were able to get pucks behind their defense and really go to work.As a team, we’re fast, and when we utilize our speed like that, we’re incredibly difficult to beat.
**Daniel:** Coach mentioned video study being a crucial part of your preparation. How significant is that to the team’s growth and performance?
**Brandon:** It’s huge for us. we watch video every day, analyzing our own play and identifying areas we can improve. Even small tweaks can make a big difference, and we’re committed to getting better with each game.
**Daniel:** Ryan leonard showed astonishing grit tonight, battling through a high stick and a point shot to the face. What does that say about the character of this team?
**Brandon:** It’s just another exmaple of how committed this group is. We’ve got a lot of heart and determination. Everyone is willing to sacrifice for the team, and that’s what makes us so special.
**Daniel:** The team is now leading the tournament in scoring. What are your thoughts on the team’s offensive firepower?
**Brandon:** We’ve got a lot of skilled players, and we’re clicking offensively right now.We’re confident in our ability to score goals, but we also know we need to stay focused on playing a complete game.
**Daniel:** looking ahead, what are the team’s goals for the rest of the tournament?
**brandon:** Our goal is to win it all.We’re taking it one game at a time, but we believe in our abilities and are confident we can achieve our goal.
