Matt Leitner scored the winner as the United States defeated Canada West 2-1 to win the gold medal at the world junior 'A' hockey challenge Sunday.

Leitner broke the 1-1 tie 50 seconds into the third period to give the U.S. their second straight gold at the 19-and-under tournament in Summerside, P.E.I.

"It was one heck of a hockey game," said United States head coach Mark Carlson.

"Eric Mihalik was tremendous for us in net and it was a gutsy, gutsy win."

Before over 2,700 fans at the Molson Canadian Arena, Leitner made a nifty move around a Canada West defenceman and then slid the puck through the legs of goaltender Sean Bonar, who finished with 34 saves and was named the tournament most valuable player and all-star.

"It was a great move and [Leitner] has one-on-one ability for sure," said Carlson. "We want to let our guys make plays, and he made one."

After a scoreless first period, Kellen Jones's low shot from a sharp angle off the right wing deflected off the stick of a United States defenceman and past goaltender Mihalik, who made 28 saves.

Eamonn McDermott scored off his own rebound to tie the game at 16:07. Both second-period goals came on the power play.

Russia wins bronze

Russia claimed the bronze medal earlier in the day, beating Canada East 6-2.

Sergey Barbashev scored a pair of goals in the final few moments of the game, cementing Russia's place back on the podium after a two-year hiatus.

Russia took home the bronze from the inaugural World Junior A tournament in Yorkton, Sask., in 2006, but finished fourth and fifth in the last two years.

Canada East won a medal at every previous tournament — silver in 2006 and 2007 and bronze in 2008.

This was the second year in a row the two teams have gone head to head for the top prize. The U.S. won last year.

'Awesome experience'

The World Junior A Challenge brings together the top Junior A players from five countries. The other teams were Belarus and Sweden.

Summerside is the first community east of Manitoba to host the tournament. A total of 13 games were played starting last weekend.

"It's been an awesome experience," said Canada East head coach Todd Gill, a former Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman. "I think we all grow from it.

"I hope the kids understand this is the chance of a lifetime."

The tournament is only in its fourth year but has a growing list of players who've been drafted by the NHL, including eight first-round selections: Kyle Turris, Nikita Filatov, Dmitri Kulikov, Joe Colborne, Riley Nash, John Moore, Brendan Smith and Dylan Olsen.

With files from CBC News