In a game with all the intensity of a playoff battle, reigning champion team USA took down Czechia 4-1 in Saturday’s 2025 World Junior semifinal at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, punching their ticket to their second consecutive gold medal game.
Related: A Quick Guide to the 2025 World Junior Championship
Trey Augustine (DET) made 26 saves to become the winningest netminder in USA World Junior history, with Gabe Perrault (NYR), Cole Eiserman (NYI), Ryan Leonard (WSH), and Oliver Moore (CHI), providing the goal support. The Americans are now set to face Finland in a showdown for the title.
Back-and-Forth Battle Leaves Teams Deadlocked After One
Czechia didn’t waste any time drawing the game’s first power play—just 1:01 in—when USA captain Ryan Leonard (WSH) got called for interference near the Czech net. On the man advantage, Trey Augustine (DET) made a sharp save on a one-timer, and the USA defence blocked a shot by Collin Ralph (STL). The penalty ended with no damage, although Adam Jecho (STL), Czechia’s quarterfinal hero against Canada, rang the crossbar off a turnover by Drew Fortescue (NYR).
At 16:42, the Americans struck first. Coach David Carle’s advice to get pucks behind the Czech defence paid off. Gabriel Perreault (NYR) scored a beauty to make it 1-0.
Leonard, wearing a bubble helmet after taking a puck to the face during their 7-2 quarterfinal win over Switzerland, worked the puck off the boards, carried it through the neutral zone, and fell but kept the play alive. He found Perreault, who finished with a slick backhand five-hole on Hrabal. The BC line (James Hagens, Perrault, Leonard) delivered again against their Hockey East Umass rival between the pipes.
Czechia nearly tied it moments later at 15:16. Vojtěch Husinecký’s shot deflected off Adam Kleber’s (BUF) skate toward the net, but Augustine kicked it away with his right pad.
The Americans almost doubled their lead shortly after, as Leonard set up Brodie Ziemer (BUF), who couldn’t get control in time. Cole Hutson (WSH) also tried to create a chance for Ziemer, but the puck slipped away in the slot.
At 10:32, Czechia capitalized on a turnover by Logan Hensler (2025 draft, Wisconsin). Jakub Stancl (STL) ripped one top corner past Augustine to tie it at 1-1. The tally wasn’t the Michigan State goaltender’s best moment, and it marked just the second goal the BC line has allowed all tournament. Stancl, leading the tournament with six goals, made no mistake on the opportunity.
The USA had some substantial shifts after that. Ziemer went hard to the net off a faceoff and picked up a Czech turnover for a solid chance. Oliver Moore (CHI) forced another turnover and fed Danny Nelson (NYI) for a shot down the right side. Meanwhile, Czechia had an odd-man rush, but Zeev Buium (MIN) broke it up with an active stick in the slot.
Late in the period, Leonard got a breakaway from Perreault’s feed but was denied by Hrabal. Seconds later, Czechia’s Adam Zidlicky went to the box to take down Perreault in the ensuing scrum. Perreault nearly gave the USA the lead on the power play, ripping a shot off a setup by Buium that beat Hrabal but hit the right post, keeping the game tied at one through 20 minutes.
USA Gains Momentum with Cole Eiserman Strike
Early on, the second period was a chess match, with both teams playing smart, conservative hockey. Trevor Connelly (VGK) started things for the USA with a strong play, forcing a shot on the net that Hrabal handled. Jiri Kulich (BUF) had a good look for Czechia off a turnover but fired wide from the slot.
Buium continued his strong American play, logging big minutes and hustling back to help break the puck out. Adam Jiricek (STL) made a key defensive stop, shutting down Leonard 1-on-1, while Danny Nelson (NYI) used his physicality to create a USA scoring chance. Carey Terrance (ANA) also came up big, using his stick to deny Stancl in the slot.
Eight minutes into the period, Czechia still didn’t have a shot on goal, thanks to the USA’s disciplined defensive play. Ziemer was a force, working hard in the corners and keeping pucks alive. Leonard had a great chance on the doorstep, but Hrabal shut him down. Czechia finally managed their first frame shot over 11 minutes in after Jecho capitalized on a turnover and ripped one down the left side. Augustine made the save, but the sequence gave Czechia a power play when Kleber was called for high-sticking.
The USA penalty kill shined, particularly Terrance, who hounded Czechia with relentless pressure and even created offensive zone time. The penalty ended abruptly when Tomáš Galvas high-sticked Buium, flipping the man advantage to the Americans.
USA’s power play delivered. Cole Hutson started the sequence with a crisp breakout pass. Connelly beat Vojtěch Port to the corner and fed Cole Eiserman (NYI), who hammered a rocket past Hrabal to give the Americans a 2-1 lead.
Postgame, Carle had nothing but praise for Eiserman and how he’s embraced the role of the 13th forward. “He’s taken it in stride and still manages to make an impact on the scoresheet,” Carle said.
“He understands it’s what’s best for the team, and his teammates recognize that too. It’s not an easy position, and I see the work he’s putting in. We’ve talked about it, and it’s his job to be a pro, which he’s done with incredible maturity. Only getting a few 5-on-5 shifts a game and still contributing on the power play isn’t easy, but we don’t win these games without him,” Carle continued.
“He sometimes gets misunderstood, especially over the past 18 months, but his commitment to the team is undeniable. He cares deeply about winning and about his teammates. You see that behind closed doors, and it’s exciting to watch him handle this role so well and still find ways to impact the game,” Carle added.
The Americans continued to press. Hutson got a good shot off a cross-ice feed from Leonard, but Hrabal was sharp to make the save. On the defensive side, Fortescue had another standout moment, escaping pressure from two Czech forecheckers and clearing the puck effectively, sealing the 2-1 USA lead through two periods.
Augustine Shines as USA Regains Gold Medal Game Berth
The third period started with intensity as Eiserman and Kulich traded words, leading to a Czechia power play. The infraction was charged to Collin Ralph (STL) after he clipped Petr Sikora (WSH), who was booed all night by the Canadian faithful.
Eiserman also wasn’t shy about letting everyone know he thought Sikora sold the call. Before the penalty, Aram Minnetian (DAL) made a huge shot block on a bomb from Jiricek, setting the tone for the USA’s defensive grit.
On the penalty kill, Fortescue stood tall with a brilliant block and a well-timed stick, while Augustine turned away multiple clappers, including a rocket from Jecho.
The Americans killed off the penalty, doing an excellent job keeping Czechia’s attack to the perimeter. Augustine stayed sharp, denying Sikora and Zidlicky from the point as Czechia outshot the USA 6-2 early in the period.
With just over 11 minutes left, Augustine made the game’s saving play, robbing Jecho with the bottom of his right pad on a low-slot attempt.
Then, on a USA power play, after Czechia was called for too many men, Eiserman showed his hockey IQ, leaving the ice as the penalty wound down to let a defenseman cover the Czechs’ rush.
Moments later, the Americans extended their lead, as Minnetian found Perreault, who set up Leonard on a 2-on-1, making it 3-1 USA with 4:27 left.
Czechia threw everything they had at Augustine, but he stayed composed, making a flurry of late saves. With time winding down, Moore blocked a shot, chased it down, and scored an empty-netter to seal a 4-1 victory for the Americans.
The reigning gold medalists are headed back to the gold medal game, where they’ll face Finland on Sunday at 7:30 PM.
It’s a rematch of their thrilling group play showdown, where the Finns won 4-3 in overtime. It’s a chance for the U.S. to claim their seventh World Juniors title, with Finland aiming for their sixth.
Meanwhile, Czechia will face Sweden, who fell 4-3 to Finland in overtime, looking to defend their bronze medal Sunday at 3:30 PM.
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