Matches

29th June 2025 - Kryštof Morong, photo: Vojtěch Zajíc

Czech U16s are World Champions for the second time in history after beating USA 7-4 in final

The World Junior Championship's U16 final began with a shootout between Ian Basilio and Josef Flechtner. The Americans were the first to take the lead, but the Czech team quickly equalized and turned the match around after further goals by Šimon Drechsler and Maxim Fišer. The home team then began to dominate and increased its lead. Although the USA managed to reduce the deficit in the third period, they were unable to catch up. The Czech team's victory was confirmed by an empty-net goal by Jakub Buroň. The Czechs thus won the U16 gold medal for the second time, having previously done so two years ago in Liberec.
Penalties
7:5
PPG
1:3
SHG
0:0
Shots on goal
20:34

Goals and assists

1. Basilio, 2. Basilio (Glenn), 34. Gabriel (Glenn, Basilio), 44. Stallard (Magliocco) – 2. Flechtner (Fišer, Kuziv), 4. Flechtner (Kořínek), 6. Drechsler (Schnaubelt), 10. Fišer (Flechtner, Kořínek), 19. Kořínek (Schnaubelt, Křivánek), 36. Schnaubelt (Hrebinec), 45. Buroň (Volf).

Referees

Mikey Grewall, Pete Rybon

Official game sheet

USA U16

Hartman – Lammi, Denning, Good, Gamble, Helwich, Weitzel, Stallard – Magliocco, Costello, Gabriel, Zoumas, Skokowski, Gallen, Glenn, Basilio, Krongel, Ives, Hoffman, Shannon.

Czechia Red U16

Charvát – Mašek, Kuziv, Mareček, Hruška, Roztočil, Kozák, Křivánek, Krása, Martinec – Hrebinec, Havlík, Flechtner, Hasal, Schnaubelt, Fišer, Drechsler, Císař, Kořínek, Volf, Vodehnal, Buroň.


The game started better for Team USA. Ian Basilio took the ball deep in his own zone, ran across the entire floor and, just 18 seconds into the game, beat goaltender Ondřej Charvát. However, the Czechs responded on the power play after a foul by Dane Gamble. Maxim Fišer's attempt was deflected straight into Cameron Hartman, and there stood a completely uncovered Josef Flechtner, who scored the 1-1 goal. Just nine seconds later, however, Basilio again passed into the attacking zone and from the right circle hit the top corner of the far post. Then in the fourth minute, Flechtner also scored for the second time, when Jakub Kořínek passed to him from behind the goal, and the Czech sniper then had no problem beating the American goalkeeper. The home team took its first lead at 5:09, when Michal Schnaubelt, on another power play, charged the better-positioned Šimon Drechsler at the edge of the right circle, which sent the Czechs into a 3-2 lead. Maxim Fišer increased the difference to two goals when he received a pass from Flechtner from the neutral zone directly into the slot. Towards the end of the first period, the Americans had a power play, in which Anthony Magliocco had the best chance, but Charvát managed to move to the left post in time.

In the second period, the Czechs started to press, which resulted in another penalty. With a five-on-four advantage, Jakub Kořínek fired a powerful shot over the defending player and made it 5-2. The Americans had a chance in the middle of the second period, but on the power play, they were thwarted by Charvát, who stopped several dangerous chances, especially an attempt by Basilio. While the teams were playing 4-on-4, Martin Hasal and Lukáš Volf had an odd-man rush but were unable to beat the American goalkeeper. Cameron Hartman had to make an important save at the end of the period, when the Czechs had a 5-on-3 advantage.

In the last period, the Czech team continued to attack and did not allow the Americans to have too many chances. However, in the 34th minute, Brady Gabriel reduced the deficit to 5-3 on the power play, firing the ball into an unguarded net after a cross pass from the blue line. However, the home team did not lose its composure and kept the game under control. With great support from the fans in the stands of the ČPP Arena in Hradec Králové, it was once again the Czech team that worked its way into the attacking zone and Michal Schnaubelt made it 6-3 from the edge of the left circle. The Americans had a power play in the final minutes, but they were unable to take advantage of it. They only managed to assert themselves in the 44th minute when Aiden Stallard scored the fourth goal with their goalie pulled for an extra attacker. However, the Czechs did not let the victory be taken away, and 30 seconds before the final siren, Jakub Buroň sealed the title with a shot into the open goal.


Coaches´ Quotes

Wil Rennebeck (USA): "We started well, which was exactly what we wanted, but we came up against a very strong team that managed to turn the game around and deservedly won. Still, the whole tournament was a great experience for all the boys, and I’m glad we had the chance to be here."

Michal Koza (CZE): "It definitely wasn’t easy, because our start wasn’t good, but it was important that we managed to turn the game around already in the first period — that gave us confidence. We saw there were gaps in their defense, but the U.S. was very strong offensively and had a ruthless finish. Ondra Charvát saved us a few times, so it certainly wasn’t an easy game, even if the score suggests otherwise. The boys were mentally well-prepared, and I’m incredibly proud of them."

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