Czechia and USA will face off in the 2024 gold medal game at the women's World Championship tournament. Here's a look at how the team's match up and keys to the game.
Czechia and USA will face off in the 2024 gold medal game at the women's World Championship tournament. Here's a look at how the team's match up and keys to the game.
In identical 4-2 decisions, Czechia and USA won their semi-final games to advance to the gold medal game of the U-18 World Championships in Zug, Switzerland.
For USA, it's a return after being ousted in the semi-finals last year by Sweden to a gold medal game. For Czechia, it's the first time in tournament history they'll play for gold, and it was the first time in the nation's history they defeated Canada in international competition.
Josie St. Martin scored a pair of goals for USA in the semi-finals and Maggie Scannell and Mary Derrenbacher also tallied to lift the Americans. Jordyn Petrie contributed with three assists.
For Czechia, it was captain Adela Sapovalivova who paced her team with a goal and an assist, backed by a spectacular 45 save performance from Aneta Senkova in Czechia's net.
USA and Czechia faced off in a pre-tournament tune up game, and it was Czechia who won the match up taking a 3-2 overtime win.
Here's a look at three keys to the gold medal game:
1. USA Needs To Stop Sapovalivova
No one expected Canada to fall in this tournament; not in the semi-finals, not in the final. They brought a star studded lineup including Chloe Primerano, Caitlin Kraemer, Emma Venusio, and Abby Stonehouse. But it all came down to Adela Sapovalivova. She was a spark for Czechia every time she stepped on the ice and Canada was unable to contain her speed and creativity. With a bronze medal at the World Championships with Czechia's senior national team, Sapovalivova was a key contributor against the best in the world, and now she'll add a historic first for Czechia. Don't expect the Czech's to settle for silver however, as they beat USA in pre-tournament competition, also the first time in program history they'd beat the Americans. Czechia's attack doesn't end at Sapovalivova as they are rolling several young players including Tereza Plosova, Anezka Cabelova, Adela Fromova, and Barbora Jurickova who can keep up with any team on the planet.
2. Goaltending Will Be Key
Aneta Senkova made 45 saves to beat Canada, but Canada allowed four goals on 12 shots. They made a goaltending change midway through, but it was too little too late. It's a constant consideration for Canada and USA who faced almost no shots against in the preliminary round and then faced their first real threats in the semi-finals. Layla Hemp will get the start in net for USA at the tournament and will be expected to fend off the issues Canada could not. The Minnetonka High School netminder won't need to be spectacular, but she'll need to come up with timely saves, perhaps after periods without a shot. It's a tough ask for a goaltender, but it will mean the difference between gold and silver.
3. Special Teams Will Not Favor Czechia
Discipline will be key for Czechia as they face a strong power play from the Americans. They are tied with Switzerland for most power play goals against, which is not a great sign. As well, Czechia will need to utilize every opportunity USA gives them, but thus far sit dead last in the U-18 standings for power play efficiency with only a 5% power play percentage...even the relegated Germans performed better with the player advantage.