University of Minnesota Athletics
Bjugstad's OT Goal Lifts USA to Victory
12/27/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Minnesota freshman Nick Bjugstad scored the overtime game-winning goal for the United States last night in a 3-2 victory against Finland at the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship. The Dec. 26, 2010 - Jan. 5, 2011, event is being held in Buffalo, N.Y.
Bjugstad, who has two goals and two assists this year for the Gophers in 13 games, scored the decisive marker 3:08 into overtime for the defending champion United States.
"This is the biggest goal I have scored so far in my career," Bjugstad told IIHF.com after the game. "Definitely a big goal, for me and the team."
Bjugstad would not have been able to be the hero if it were not for his Gopher teammate Erik Haula, who is playing for Finland. Haula had the primary assist on Finland's game-tying goal with seven minutes left in the game.
The contest was the first of the event for both the United States and Finland. Team USA returns to the ice at 8 p.m. on Dec. 28, for a game against Slovakia. Finland plays Switzerland at 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 28.
