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Janecke’s OT goal lifts Team USA to IIHF gold
tessa janecke
Orangeville graduate Tessa Janecke (22, far right) scored the game-winning goal in overtime of Team USA’s 4-3 gold medal game against Canada on April 20 in Czechia. / Instagram photo: tjanecke_15

České Budějovice, Czechia — Orangeville’s Tessa Janecke had a moment to last a lifetime on April 20. The Penn State junior — who is also the leading scorer in the history of her university’s hockey program, scored the overtime winning goal to lead Team USA over Canada in the Gold Medal game at the IIHF Women’s World Championships in Czechia.

“There’s nothing like it. Just so much fun,” Janecke said in an interview with TSN. “It shows how strong we are as a group and how much we can persevere. I wouldn’t want to do it with any other group.”

Tied at 3-3 and 17 minutes into the overtime, the two hockey world rivals were running on empty tanks. A misplayed pass from behind the net by a Canadian defender was intercepted before the blue line by American Taylor Heise, who flipped to Janecke, who was rushing the net on the left side. Janecke’s perfect reception and placement past Canadian goalie and former Wisconsin Badger Ann-Renée Desbiens came with just 2:54 left in the 3-on-3 overtime.

 It was Janecke’s third goal of the tournament — she scored twice against Switzerland on April 15 in a 5-0 preliminary round win. Janecke was named the Player of the Game in the gold medal matchup, her second time earning that honor in the tourney (vs. Czechia on April 11). 

This was Janecke’s third time in the IIHF Women’s World Championship game. Team USA won in 2023 and took second in 2024. This is the 11th title for the Americans in 24 finals appearances. Team USA has reached the championship all 24 years. Canada (13 golds) has reached the championship 23 times. The two countries have also met in six of the seven Olympic finals.

According to The Guardian, the tournament was a roaring success, with more than 122,000 spectators, topping the previous high of 119,000 set in Winnipeg, Ontario, Canada in 2007.

During her active NCAA run, she’s accumulated 152 points (63 goals, 90 assists), the most in either the men’s or women’s program at Penn State. She also hold the single-season scoring record at the school, having twice earned 53 points in one season — including this year. She was the AHA Player and Forward of the year for the second season in a row, and All-AHA First Team for the third time, according to the university. She also led the conference in scoring for the second straight season with 28 points.

Janecke is an Orangeville graduate and began her hockey career with the Monroe Youth Hockey Association’s Avalanche teams.