Rutger McGroarty and his teammates remembered the empty feeling.
They wanted to return the favour on their bitter rival’s home soil.
When the final buzzer sounded Friday, the United States — having embraced the villain role in a hostile environment — got the revenge it desperately craved.
Isaac Howard scored twice in the second period as the Americans beat host Sweden 6-2 to capture gold at the world junior hockey championship in Gothenburg.
“I’m so proud of this group,” said McGroarty, the U.S. captain and a Winnipeg Jets prospect.