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25th June 2025 - Derek OBrien, photo: Stanislav Souček

Czech U23s open home tournament with win over USA

The Czechs have begun this World Junior Championship the same way they finished the last one, defeating the USA 6-3. The reigning U23 champions controlled the game from the opening faceoff and quickly took a 3-0 lead. They eventually opened up a 5-1 lead before the Americans fought back with a pair of goals late in the second and early in the third to make it 5-3. Martin Kubiček's late goal sealed it. Six different players scored for the Czechs, with Jan Čejka recording four points and Vojtěch Jágr and Jan Stromko three each. Michael Henry and Connor Callahan had two points each for the Americans.

ČPP Aréna - hala 1

3-6
(1:3, 1:2, 1:1)

USA U23 - Czechia U23

Penalties
6:3
PPG
3:2
SHG
0:0
Shots on goal
14:41

Goals and assists

12. Callahan (Henry), 30. Henry (Rennebeck), 32. Wright (Callahan, Rudolph) – 3. Bečka (Šíma, Lhota), 6. Čejka (Kubíček), 8. Jágr (Stromko, Čejka), 21. Stromko (Čejka, Jágr), 25. Šíma (Stromko, Bečka), 44. Kubíček (Čejka, Jágr).

Referees

Peter Hriško, Mikey Grewall

Official game sheet

USA U23

Christman (24. Mangini) – Albert, Malloy, Melillo, Wright, Migale, Rose, Steinberg – Henry, Drew, Migliozzi, Callahan, McCormick, Wilbur, Rudolph, Bruno, Rennebeck, Fetzer, Marchese, Phillips, Rhoades, Gallen.

Czechia U23

Křemenák – Bečka, Škoudolík, Dlouhý, M. Matoušek, Vaniš, Korbel, J. Matoušek, Kubíček, Hálek – Bláha, Miksan, Stromka, Macek, Jágr, Šíma, Patera, Kábrt, Jelen, Lhota, Čejka, Macháček.


Coaches´ Quotes

Jiří Mašík (CZE): "We wanted to start both the game and the whole tournament with a win, and we succeeded. I think the key was the first period, where we played with focus. Of course, there were a few small mistakes, but the boys played the way we asked them to – responsibly on defence. In a way, it's good that it was a bit of a battle; it’ll serve as a lesson for us. I have to thank the boys for their team effort and how well they handled it."

Mike Malloy (USA): "We didn’t get into the game well at all, and it was difficult for us to get back into it. We tried to play simple hockey, but we didn’t manage our emotions – being shorthanded for seven minutes cost us the game. We need to prepare well for tomorrow."

Photogallery

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