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United States beat Czech Republic 4-0 to win ice hockey gold in Korea

Published: 31 Jan. 2024, 22:04

The United States men's ice hockey team celebrates after beating the Czech Republic 4-0 in the 6-team gold medal game at the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympics in Gangneung, Gangwon on Wednesday. [MARY YANG]

GANGNEUNG, Gangwon — The United States took gold in the men’s ice hockey 6-team tournament at the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympics on Wednesday, beating the Czech Republic 4-0.

It was a sweet victory for Team U.S.A., who earlier dropped a game — their only loss of the tournament — to the Czechs 6-5 during a preliminary round in a penalty shootout.

The game was well-matched from the start, with the Czechs entering the rink so far undefeated in Gangwon and the Americans besting medal favorites Canada in the semifinals to earn a shot at gold.

The intensity on the ice at Gangneung Hockey Centre was high, with the level of play not far off from that of professional players twice the athletes’ age. At one point in the first few minutes of the game, the tape from one player’s blade appeared to fall onto the ice, but each side carried on without missing a beat.

The Czech team made multiple bold attempts on the net in the first several minutes, but U.S. goalie Xavier Wendt was there to knock the puck away and make big saves with his glove.

The Czechs went down a man seven minutes into the first period, with Ben Reisnecker taking a 1.5-minute penalty for hooking. The U.S. team took advantage of their short-staffed opponents, and Mikey Berchild put the first point on the scoreboard in a power play a minute later.

The Czechs took another 1.5 minute penalty before the buzzer but the Americans failed to get another shot in the net, ending the first period up 1-0.

There was everything an ice hockey game could have on Wednesday night, with plenty of body checking and loud slams against the boards around the rink — and a stadium-wave between the first and second periods that went on for an impressive five or six rounds, though some sections were more enthusiastic than others.

It was all about Team U.S.A. again in the second period, with JP Hurlbert putting the board at 2-0. The Americans rode that momentum through the third period, getting two more points on the board from Berchild and Zane Torre while blocking the Czechs at every chance on the net to secure a 4-0 victory.

Players on the U.S. bench rushed to join their teammates, tossing their gear into the air to leave a dust of helmets, gloves and hockey sticks on the ice.

One day of competition remains at this year's Youth Olympics, with the tournament set to end with a closing ceremony on Thursday.

BY MARY YANG [[email protected]]