College Sports

Howell, Fowlerville grads win NCAA men’s gymnastics title at Michigan

ANN ARBOR — Before they were national championship gymnastics teammates at the University of Michigan, Kyle Walchuk of Howell and Landen Blixt of Fowlerville were two young boys dealing with foot injuries while training in the same gym. Walchuk had recently moved to Michigan when he joined Infinity Gymnastics Academy in Brighton where Blixt was […]

Published

3 weeks ago

May 3, 2025

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Walchuk had recently moved to Michigan when he joined Infinity Gymnastics Academy in Brighton where Blixt was already a budding star.

Walchuk, 12 at the time, injured his foot during his second practice. Blixt, 13, broke a foot a few weeks earlier. Unable to train, they worked on their conditioning together while their injuries healed.

From mutual disappointment, a bond quickly formed.

“It’s not great to have injuries, but looking back it was the best thing that could have happened because it gave us the opportunity to get to know each other,” Walchuk said. “We’re only a year different. We had a lot in common. We talked a lot, car-pooled to the gym. That was part of the draw to even come to Michigan in the first place.”

Blixt arrived at Michigan after graduating from Fowlerville in 2022. Walchuk became a Wolverine after graduating from Howell the following year.

They joined a program that had been close to winning national championships for a few years before breaking through to win the NCAA title April 19 in its home arena at the Crisler Center.

Neither gymnast competed in the national meet. Blixt suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the first meet of the season, while Walchuk is a pommel horse specialist on a team that is deep in that event.

They contributed in other ways.

Blixt learned how to add value to the team, even when he couldn’t compete, by making suggestions to his teammates to improve their routines and offering encouragement. His biggest regret the previous year was not speaking up when he saw something a teammate could improve.

“This year only being able to help the team cheering wise in the gym, planning out schedules for people, that’s all I could do,” Blixt said. “I was really happy I got to fill that regret this year. That’s why I felt so good, because even though I didn’t compete, I felt like I literally gave everything.”

Being surrounded by teammates with such high aspirations helped Blixt cope with his injury.

“The team helped me a lot because my role changed but the goal remained the same,” he said. “I still had something to look forward to. If I was in club gymnastics before college, it literally would have felt like my world was collapsing. Because I have these guys and the goal hadn’t finished of winning a national championship, I was able to bounce back quickly.”

MEMORY LANE: Uber-focused Fowlerville gymnast with Olympic dreams ‘parents himself’

Walchuk was in Michigan’s lineup for six of its 14 events. His contribution was pushing the other pommel horse specialists throughout the season because, if they faltered, he was ready to take their spot.

“The pushing for those couple of spots gets pretty intense,” Walchuk said. “There’s no animosity or anything, just that drive that we’re all pushing each other. At the end of the day, we all want to win a national championship and we want to see the team succeed. We push to compete with other pommel horse specialists. It’s the best thing for the team, and we all realize that. It leads to a real healthy dynamic.”

Winning the national championship became an all-consuming focus for the Wolverines after back-to-back runner-up finishes that were preceded by two straight third-place showings.

“Throughout the year, we learned there was way more to give,” Blixt said. “None of us knew what it took to win a national championship, obviously, because this team never won one before. It was cool just to see all the work we’ve put in compared to the other years.”

It wasn’t easy. If it was, every team would win national championships.

“It was a pretty long season, going through with such high expectations,” Walchuk said. “Everyone was pushing pretty hard. Tensions are high. It was certainly one of the harder seasons I’ve seen.”

Because Blixt’s injury happened so early in the season, he gets an extra year of eligibility after his senior season next winter. That will give him an extra season to compete in a program that produced three Olympians and an Olympic alternate last summer as he works toward his goal of qualifying for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

“The Olympics have been my biggest goal since I was little,” he said. “It’s something you want to have come true. It’s like a dream and you don’t know how to get there. Now that I’m on this path, especially with my coaches here, you can see the road. You just have to keep doing the right things.”

Walchuk said his studies as a material science and engineering major at Michigan would make it difficult to put in the extra training needed to pursue an Olympic goal. He was studying quantum theory when reached for his interview, has a lab scheduled this summer that will take up eight hours a day and has joined project teams at the university.

“We have two (U.S.) Olympians in the gym,” Walchuk said. “I’ve seen the commitment it takes physically, the time it takes to recover and do all the training. I don’t know if it’s realistic to have all the goals I have outside of the gym along with Olympic goals.”

Rather than focusing on pommel horse, the one event that would give him the best shot at the Olympics, Walchuk hopes to become stronger in multiple events to help the team over his final two years.

Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@gannett.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan

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College Sports

US wins ice hockey world championship gold

STOCKHOLM — Tage Thompson scored at 2:02 of overtime to give the United States a 1-0 victory over Switzerland on Sunday for its second world hockey championship and first since 1933. Thompson, the Buffalo Sabres star from Connecticut, fired a wrist shot past goalie Leonardo Genoni from the top of the right circle for his […]

Published

12 minutes ago

May 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

STOCKHOLM — Tage Thompson scored at 2:02 of overtime to give the United States a 1-0 victory over Switzerland on Sunday for its second world hockey championship and first since 1933.

Thompson, the Buffalo Sabres star from Connecticut, fired a wrist shot past goalie Leonardo Genoni from the top of the right circle for his sixth goal of the tournament.

“What an absolutely amazing feeling,” said U.S. coach Ryan Warsofsky of the San Jose Sharks. “Everyone in our group contributed to winning the gold medal. We beat an excellent team in Switzerland tonight and full credit to them for the tournament they had … We’ll remember this for a long, long time.”

In 1933, the United States beat Canada 2-1 in the final in Prague. The Americans also were formally awarded the title in 1960, when they won the Olympics in Squaw Valley and the worlds did not take place.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Vancouver forward Drew O’Connor said. “U.S. hockey has been growing and getting better every year. We haven’t had success here, but you’ve seen it in the world juniors and things like that.”

Utah’s Logan Cooley and Nashville’s Brady Skjei assisted on the goal. Boston goalie Jeremy Swayman made 25 saves to finish 7-0 in the tournament.

“We did it, the wait is over,” Swayman said on social media. “Thanks for sticking along with us. It’s going to be a great summer.”

Vancouver’s Conor Garland failed on a penalty shot early in the second.

Amid the celebrations on the ice, the U.S. players displayed Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey to honor the forward who was killed with his brother Matt in late August, riding their bicycles in their home state of New Jersey on the eve of their sister’s wedding. Gaudreau leads the U.S. scorers at the worlds with 43 points.

“What a group. What a fun month,” Garland said. “If we lost, we lost … but we didn’t. We’re such a tight-knit group, that’s just the way it always is with USA Hockey.”

Switzerland beat the U.S. 3-0 in the group stage of the tournament, the Americans’ only defeat.

Bronze medal for Sweden

Mikael Backlund and Marcus Johansson scored two goals each as Sweden beat Denmark 6-2 to take the bronze medal earlier Sunday.

It was the second straight third-place finish for Sweden while fourth place was the best-ever result for Denmark.

Lucas Raymond and Mika Zibanejad also scored for the winners while Nick Olesen and Nikolaj Ehlers scored for Denmark.

Originally Published: May 25, 2025 at 5:33 PM CDT

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US wins ice hockey world championship gold with 1-0 OT win against Switzerland

STOCKHOLM (AP) — The long wait is over. Tage Thompson scored the golden goal as the United States prevailed over Switzerland 1-0 in overtime to win its first ice hockey world championship in decades on Sunday. Thompson wristed a shot past goaltender Leonardo Genoni from the top of the right circle for the winner 2:02 […]

Published

35 minutes ago

May 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

STOCKHOLM (AP) — The long wait is over.

Tage Thompson scored the golden goal as the United States prevailed over Switzerland 1-0 in overtime to win its first ice hockey world championship in decades on Sunday.

Thompson wristed a shot past goaltender Leonardo Genoni from the top of the right circle for the winner 2:02 into overtime of the final with the 40th shot on goal.

Logan Cooley and Brady Skjei provided the assists and goaltender Jeremy Swayman shut out the Swiss with 25 saves.

USA Hockey says it is only the second trophy won at the tournament by the Americans after beating Canada in 1933, and it welcomed the triumph by saying “Golden For First Time in 92 Years.”

“What an absolutely amazing feeling,” U.S. head coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “Everyone in our group contributed to winning the gold medal. We beat an excellent team in Switzerland tonight and full credit to them for the tournament they had … We’ll remember this for a long, long time.”

While the Americans had not won a world championship tournament in which they competed since 1933, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) says the U.S. was also formally awarded the title in 1960, when they won the Olympic tournament and the worlds did not take place.

USA Hockey does not count that 1960 title.

Switzerland, last year’s runner-up, has never won the tournament.

Scoreless in regulation

The tightly contested game was scoreless in regulation with both goaltenders holding firm.

Conor Garland wasted a penalty shot 5:38 into the middle period.

The U.S. began to mount pressure in the middle period, outshooting the Swiss 17-9, and went on with 11 shots on goal against four in the third.

Swayman had a perfect record 7-0 at the worlds.

“We did it, the wait is over,” Swayman said in a post on social media. “Thanks for sticking along with us. It’s going to be a great summer.”

Amid the celebrations on the ice, the U.S. players displayed Johnny Gaudreau ‘s jersey to honor the forward who was killed with his brother Matt in late August riding their bicycles in their home state of New Jersey on the eve of their sister Katie’s wedding.

Gaudreau leads the U.S. all-time scoring table at the worlds with 43 points.

Third medal for Thompson

Switzerland shut out the U.S. 3-0 in the group stage of the tournament, the Americans’ only defeat.

After winning bronze in 2018 and 2021, Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres earned his third medal and tied Allen Van (2 silver, 1 bronze) for the most decorated U.S. player at the worlds.

All players on the U.S. team except the three goaltenders registered at least a point at the tournament with the 21-year-old Frank Nazar the leading point getter with six goals and six assists.

Switzerland lost the fourth final since the playoff system was introduced in 1992. It was beaten by Sweden in 2013 and 2018 and by the Czechs last year.

Bronze medal for Sweden

Mikael Backlund and Marcus Johansson scored two goals each as Sweden beat Denmark 6-2 to take the bronze medal earlier Sunday.

It was the second straight third-place finish for Sweden while fourth place was the best-ever result for Denmark.

Lucas Raymond and Mika Zibanejad also scored for the winners while Nick Olesen and Nikolaj Ehlers scored for Denmark.

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USA Wins 2025 IIHF Hockey World Championship vs. Switzerland, 1st Gold Since 1933

The United States won its first IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship title since 1933 after Tage Thompson scored an overtime game-winner for a 1-0 victory over Switzerland on Sunday at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. With the teams going to three-on-three action, Thompson took the puck from his own blue line and skated to the […]

Published

59 minutes ago

May 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

With the teams going to three-on-three action, Thompson took the puck from his own blue line and skated to the right faceoff circle on the other end. He then fired a shot past Switzerland goalie Leonardo Genoni for the win.

The United States outshot Switzerland 40-25 and 29-14 in the final 40 minutes of regulation plus OT.

The United States had a few great chances to score in regulation, particularly in the second period after the team earned a penalty shot when Frank Nazar drew a penalty shot after a Michael Fora hooking penalty on a breakaway.

Conor Garland skated up for the penalty shot, but Genoni stonewalled the attempt.

The United States had another great chance when Clayton Keller fired a shot from the left faceoff circle. Genoni got the save, but the puck bounced up in the air and skidded toward the goal. However, Switzerland was there to clear the puck away from the crease.

The two teams ultimately went scoreless in regulation, but the game-winner arrived quickly as Thompson got the goal just 2:02 into OT.

In net, Jeremy Swayman earned the 25-save shutout victory. Genoni saved 39 shots for Switzerland in defeat.

The United States dominated in the lead-in to the championship game, winning six of its seven group games (five in regulation). The U.S. outscored its opponents 34-14, with its only loss occurring to Switzerland by a 3-0 score.

The Americans turned it up in the knockout round, beating Finland 5-2 and Sweden 6-2 to make the championship. However, Switzerland, whose only pre-championship blemish was a single overtime loss to Czechia to start the tournament, beat Austria 6-0 and Denmark 7-0 en route to the championship.

And so the two tournament titans faced off in the final. In the end, the United States was victorious thanks to Thompson and a tremendous defensive effort.

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U.S. men’s hockey team wins first standalone world championship since 1933

The U.S. men’s hockey team won its first standalone world championship since 1933, beating Switzerland 1-0 in overtime in Sunday’s final in Stockholm. Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres scored the golden goal 2:02 into OT to give the U.S. men their first major tournament title since the 1996 World Cup. Their last Olympic title […]

Published

2 hours ago

May 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The U.S. men’s hockey team won its first standalone world championship since 1933, beating Switzerland 1-0 in overtime in Sunday’s final in Stockholm.

Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres scored the golden goal 2:02 into OT to give the U.S. men their first major tournament title since the 1996 World Cup. Their last Olympic title came in 1980 with the Miracle on Ice.

Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins stopped all 25 Swiss shots. Swayman was the unused third goalie for the U.S. at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February behind Connor Hellebuyck and Jake Oettinger, neither of whom was on the world team as their NHL clubs made the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

For a time, the Olympics also counted as world championships, so the U.S.’ Olympic medals in 1952 (silver), 1956 (silver) and 1960 (gold) are also world championship medals.

The U.S. was eliminated from worlds in the quarterfinals last year. The Americans were fourth at worlds in 2022 and 2023 and made the semifinals 13 times since the IIHF reinstituted a bracketed playoff round in 1992.

They lost 12 semifinals in a row before beating Sweden in Stockholm on Saturday to ensure their first gold or silver finish at a standalone worlds since 1950.

After Sunday’s win, the team celebrated with a jersey of Johnny Gaudreau, the U.S.’ all-time leader in points and assists in world championship play. Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, died last Aug. 29 after being hit by a suspected drunk driver while they were bicycling.

The U.S. Olympic roster in 2026 — with the expected return of NHL players for the first time since 2014 — should look very different from the world team.

Only two players on the world team (Swayman and defenseman Zach Werenski) were on the roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off. The 4 Nations team is expected to more closely resemble the Olympic team that will be named in full in late 2025 or January 2026.

Many top NHL players miss worlds because the tournament takes place during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Others choose to rest after the NHL season.

The U.S. head coach at worlds was the San Jose Sharks’ Ryan Warsofsky.

The U.S. head coach for the Olympics is the New York Rangers’ Mike Sullivan.

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Hilary Knight can break the U.S. record for Olympic hockey appearances in 2026.

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College Sports

US wins ice hockey world championship gold with 1-0 OT win against Switzerland

STOCKHOLM (AP) — The United States prevailed over Switzerland 1-0 in overtime of the final of the ice hockey world championship on Sunday. Tage Thompson wristed a shot past goaltender Leonardo Genoni from the top of the right circle for the winner 2:02 into overtime with the 40th shot on goal. Logan Cooley and Brady […]

Published

2 hours ago

May 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

STOCKHOLM (AP) — The United States prevailed over Switzerland 1-0 in overtime of the final of the ice hockey world championship on Sunday.

Tage Thompson wristed a shot past goaltender Leonardo Genoni from the top of the right circle for the winner 2:02 into overtime with the 40th shot on goal.

Logan Cooley and Brady Skjei provided the assists and goaltender Jeremy Swayman shut out the Swiss with 25 saves.

USA Hockey says it is the second trophy won at the tournament by the Americans after winning in 1933.

The Americans were also formally awarded the title in 1960 when they won the Olympic tournament and the worlds did not take place.

Bronze medal for Sweden

Mikael Backlund and Marcus Johansson scored two goals each as Sweden beat Denmark 6-2 to take the bronze medal earlier Sunday.

It was the second straight third-place finish for Sweden while fourth place was the best-ever result for Denmark.

Lucas Raymond and Mika Zibanejad also scored for the winners while Nick Olesen and Nikolaj Ehlers scored for Denmark.

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

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College Sports

US pay tribute to Gaudreau after winning first men’s ice hockey world title since 1933 | USA ice hockey team

The United States prevailed over Switzerland 1-0 in overtime to claim the American men’s first ice hockey world championship at the tournament since 1933. Tage Thompson wristed a shot past goaltender Leonardo Genoni from the top of the right circle for the winner 2:02 into overtime with the 40th shot on goal. Logan Cooley and […]

Published

3 hours ago

May 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The United States prevailed over Switzerland 1-0 in overtime to claim the American men’s first ice hockey world championship at the tournament since 1933.

Tage Thompson wristed a shot past goaltender Leonardo Genoni from the top of the right circle for the winner 2:02 into overtime with the 40th shot on goal. Logan Cooley and Brady Skjei provided the assists and goaltender Jeremy Swayman shut out the Swiss with 25 saves.

“We did it, the wait is over,” Swayman said in a social media post. “Thanks for sticking along with us. It’s going to be a great summer.”

The Americans were also awarded the title in 1960 when they won the Olympic tournament and the worlds did not take place. Team USA’s last men’s Olympic title came thanks to the Miracle On Ice at the 1980 Games.

Many of the world’s top players do not take part at the worlds as it takes place during the NHL playoffs, while others choose to rest after the long and grueling regular season. While most of the US players at this year’s tournament are on NHL teams, there are also a number of college players. The US had lost 12 world championship semi-finals in succession before they beat Sweden on Saturday.

As the US posed for photos after their win, they held up the jersey of Johnny Gaudreau who was struck and killed by a car along with his brother, Matthew, in August. A man accused of killing the NHL star and his brother while drunk driving is awaiting trial.

Earlier, Mikael Backlund and Marcus Johansson scored two goals each as Sweden beat Denmark 6-2 to take the bronze medal. It was the second straight third-place finish for Sweden while fourth place was the best-ever result for Denmark.

Lucas Raymond and Mika Zibanejad also scored for the Swedes while Nick Olesen and Nikolaj Ehlers scored for Denmark.

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