ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE, Czechia - Penn State women’s ice hockey’s Tessa Janecke scored the golden goal for the United States as the team defeated Canada, 4-3, in overtime to secure the gold medal at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship.
It is the second time the Orangeville, Illinois native has earned the gold medal with the United States at the IIHF Women’s World Championships, having done so in 2023 as well. The team took home silver in 2024.
“There’s nothing like it. Just so much fun,” Janecke stated 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.”
The golden goal was Janecke’s third of the tournament, having scored twice in the first period against Switzerland on April 15. The United States earned a 5-0 victory to complete a perfect preliminary round.
She earned Player of the Game honors for her efforts to secure the gold. Additionally, she was named the Player of the Game after the team’s 4-0 victory over Czechia on April 11.
“We are proud of Tessa. She is dedicated to being the best,” said Head Coach Jeff Kampersal. “No one I’ve been around has worked harder at her craft than Tessa. I’m happy that all her winter morning hours have paid off in another championship moment.”
Janecke concluded her junior season with the Nittany Lions as one of the most decorated skaters in Penn State history. She became the Penn State ice hockey (men’s and women’s) all-time leader in points in a 4-0 shutout win over Lindenwood on January 25. Janecke currently has 153 points on 63 goals and 90 assists for her career. Her 53 points this season tied her own single-season program record.
For the second season in a row, Janecke was named a top 10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award while earning Second Team CCM/AHCA Division I All-American and All-USCHO Second Team honors.
She was named AHA Player and Forward of the year for the second year in a row and placed herself on the All-AHA First Team for the third time. Additionally, Janecke was the AHA Scoring Champion for the second straight season with 28 points in conference play.
Janecke led the Nittany Lions to a program-best 31 wins including an AHA record of 19 conference victories. The team won their third consecutive AHA Championship en route to an NCAA Tournament appearance. Penn State finished eighth in both the DCU/USCHO and USA Hockey/The Rink Live women’s college hockey polls.
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