Team Hebert, based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, defeated Italy 8-6 in the final to claim the men's gold medal at the 2026 World Junior Curling Championships in Taarnby, Denmark—the first U.S. men's junior world title since 2008. Skipper Caden Hebert also received the World Curling Junior Sportsmanship Award. Canada finished fourth.
The 2026 World Junior Curling Championships concluded on March 3, 2026, in Taarnby, Denmark, with Eau Claire-based Team Hebert securing the gold medal for the United States, marking the fourth U.S. gold at the World Juniors and the first men's title since 2008. The team—skipper Caden Hebert, Jackson Bestland, Benji Paral, Jack Wendtland, alternate Daniel Laufer, coached by 1998 Olympian Mike Peplinski—finished 9-1, with their only round-robin loss a 7-5 defeat to Scotland.
Team Hebert advanced by edging Canada 7-6 in the semifinals on March 2. Canada's team from Truro Curling Club in Nova Scotia (skip Calan MacIsaac, third Nathan Gray, second Owain Fisher, lead Christopher McCurdy), who went 7-2 in round-robin, lost the bronze-medal game 9-8 to Scotland after 10 ends.
In the final, Hebert's squad took a 2-0 lead in the first end, extending to 4-1 by the third. Italy narrowed it to 4-3 in the fourth, but the U.S. pulled ahead to 8-4 before Italy closed to 8-6 entering the tenth end, where Team Hebert held on for the victory.
"Being able to get to the finals and win a world championship is a life-changing moment," Peplinski said. "There are very few people in our sport that have had that success."
Caden Hebert reflected: "Pressure is a privilege. It felt really cool to watch us control ourselves so well in such a big moment, play as best as we could and trust each other."
Teammate Jackson Bestland added: "The emotions were a lot stronger with it being like our first world championship together. We’ve been together as a team for seven years."
Benji Paral noted: "The level of competition was some of the highest that we’ve ever played at as a team."
USA Curling CEO Dean Gemmell praised: "(Team Hebert) steadily improved each season and have been well-coached... They earned this title by putting in hours and hours of hard work."
The win builds on 2025 successes: USA Junior National Championships, World Junior-B Championships, silver at World University Games, and Olympic Trials.
Hebert also earned the men’s 2026 World Curling Junior Sportsmanship Award for skill, honesty, fair play, and friendship. "I just try to be as nice as I can to everyone," he said.
Eau Claire Curling Club manager Bob Heacox said: "I played against Caden when he was like six years old... He’s such a gracious kid, and he’s just so nice." Canada's team reflected on Facebook: “Ten years ago, we were kids... Now we are here... A dream that has come full circle.”
