Future Rangers Stars Gabe Perreault and Drew Fortescue Shine In 4-1 Team USA Semi-Final Victory Over Czechia

Team USA are going for gold. Saturday night featured a matchup between the United States and Czechia in Ottawa, Ontario to decide who would move on to meet Finland in the World Junior Championship gold medal game Sunday night.

New York Rangers prospects Gabe Perreault and Drew Fortescue came into Saturday night's game as major contributors to Team USA's success through their first five games of the tournament. Perreault had registered seven points (two goals, five assists), and Fortescue was playing big minutes on the U.S. blue line, effectively shutting down opposition's offenses.

Rangers fans have high hopes for the two players, but particularly Perreault. Perreault justified those hopes early on in the Americans matchup with Czechia, scoring a goal just three minutes and 14 seconds into the game to give the U.S. an early lead. Perreault took a pass from Boston College teammate Ryan Leonard and slid the puck perfectly through Czech goalie Michael Hrabal's five-hole.

Perreault's ability to finish in a tight space in front of goal is just one of the many skills he's put on display at the 2025 World Juniors. Putting pucks in the net isn't the only thing Perreault is good at, though, as the forward tallied his sixth assist of the tournament later in the game when Perreault found Leonard streaking to the net to get the U.S. a much needed insurance goal.

Down the stretch of the third period, the Czech offensive launched a ravenous assault on the American defensive zone- desperately looking to get back in the game and force overtime. The Americans were lucky to have Fortescue on the back end to repel the Czech attacks and handle important shutdown minutes in front of U.S. goaltender Trey Augustine.

During the game, the television commentators for the contest commented specifically on Fortescue, saying

""Sometimes you don't notice him in a game and it's because he's doing everything right. He's always in position and plays it simple. He's a Rangers draft pick — a good, solid, reliable defender coming your way pretty soon.""

TSN Broadcast

Fortescue and Perreault have a chance at winning back to back gold medals for the U.S. at the World Juniors, and to establish themselves as winners and top tier talent that Rangers fans should be excited to see at Madison Square Garden in just a short time.

The U.S. will take on Finland in the rapidly upcoming gold medal game on Sunday evening in Ottawa.