Gabe Perreault and Drew Fortescue are two-time gold medalists at the World Junior Championship.
For the second straight year, the 2023 New York Rangers draft picks and teammates at Boston College were part of Team USA’s title-winning team. The Americans won back-to-back championships for the first time in tournament history when they defeated Finland 4-3 in overtime on Sunday night in the 2025 WJC gold medal game at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. Teddy Stiga’s goal at 8:04 of overtime gave the U.S. back-to-back championships.
Perreault and Fortescue each played on the gold medal-winning team in 2024 — and each played a big role on this year’s squad.
Perreault, a 19-year-old forward taken by the Rangers in the first round (No. 23), matched his points total from last year’s tournament with 10 (three goals, seven assists) in seven games, putting him in a five-way tie for second place in scoring behind teammate Cole Hutson (3-8-11). He was named to the All-Tournament team
The son of former NHL center Yanic Perreault had one assist and was plus-2 in the championship game. He finished third in the tournament in assists and ended up in a four-way tie for second in plus-minus at plus-10; Hutson was tops at plus-11.
Fortescue, a shutdown defenseman taken by New York in the third round (No. 90), was scoreless in seven games after putting up four points (one goal, three assists) last year. But his value to Team USA came in his own zone. He played 25:40 on Sunday, second to fellow defenseman Zeev Buium, after a game-high 24:37 TOI in a 4-1 semifinal win against Czechia on Saturday. He finished the tournament at plus-6.
Perreault, Fortescue help U.S. win gold again at World Juniors
Perreault, who had a goal and an assist in the win against Czechia and was named the U.S. player of the game, had the second assist on the Americans’ first goal on Sunday. It was an all-BC goal, with Perreault and Ryan Leonard assisting on the tally by James Hagens at 12:04 of the first period that tied the game 1-1.
The Finns led 3-1 late in the second period before Brandon Svoboda and Hutson scored in a 1:53 span to tie the game. Perreault was on the ice for Hutson’s goal.
Perreault’s production took a decided jump in the playoff round, showing yet again that he is a big-game player. He had two goals and two assists in four preliminary-round games and was held off the score sheet in a 4-1 win against Canada and a 4-3 overtime loss to Finland.
But he came up big when it mattered most, putting up six points (one goal, five assists) in three games when a loss would have sent the USA home.
Both players will return to finish the season Boston College, which is ranked No. 2 in the NCAA with a 12-3-1 record.
Perreault has 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in 16 and is tied for second in points per game at 1.44. He has points in 14 of BC’s 16 games. As a freshman in 2023-24, he was tied for fourth in the NCAA in scoring with 60 points (19 goals, 41 assists) in 36 games, helping the Eagles advance to the NCAA Championship Game, where they lost 2-1 to Denver.
Fortescue, also a sophomore, has four assists, 36 penalty minutes and is plus-12 in 16 games this season. He had four goals and eight points in 40 games for BC last season.
Don’t be surprised if the Rangers make a big push to sign Perreault after BC ends its season. Fortescue figures to play at least one more season in college after this one.
