The local kids had one heck of a showing on the international stage. Team USA took down Sweden, 6-2, in the gold medal game of the World Junior Championship on Friday. It capped off an undefeated run by the U.S. in the tournament. In the final, Will Smith (Lexington, Mass.) notched two assists. The first...
The local kids had one heck of a showing on the international stage.
Team USA took down Sweden, 6-2, in the gold medal game of the World Junior Championship on Friday. It capped off an undefeated run by the U.S. in the tournament.
In the final, Will Smith (Lexington, Mass.) notched two assists. The first came on linemate Gabe Perreault's opening goal, while the second took place on defenseman Zeev Buium's goal to make it 4-2 early in the third period.
Ryan Leonard (Amherst, Mass.) saved his best for the third. The Pope Francis product showcased a tremendous individual effort, outworking and dangling two Swedish defenders and sniping a goal. Leonard, a first-round pick by the Washington Capitals, made sure to blow the crowd a kiss after scoring, too.
Both Smith and Leonard posted strong showings throughout the tournament.
Smith, a first-round pick by the San Jose Sharks and St. Sebastian's alum, scored four goals and tallied nine points in seven games; Leonard had three goals and six points.
The duo played on a line together at the World Juniors, which has become the norm. They lived together at the U.S. National Team Development Program and skated on a line together. That's continued into their freshmen seasons with Boston College. The third member of the Eagles trio is Perreault, who finished the tournament with three goals and seven assists.
Smith, Leonard and Perreault weren't the only BC players finding success at the tournament. Cutter Gauthier was tied for the tournament lead in points with 12.
