PLYMOUTH, Michigan – There’s been a burgeoning rivalry in the junior hockey ranks between the United States and Sweden. 

The two nations have met in the final of the past two Under-18 World Championships, each winning gold. 

In fact, when the American Under-20 team won gold this year, in Sweden, one of their stated motivations was getting back at the Swedes who had defeated them in 2022 when they played in the Under-18 tournament. 

And this season, the rivalry has already turned heated at the Under-18 level. 

Sweden defeated the Americans 4-3 on Saturday to win the Under-18 Five Nations Tournament hosted at USA Hockey Arena. Anton Frondell scored with 1.5 seconds remaining, capping a third-period comeback, which was then met by a fracas at the buzzer where the teams each had four players tosse