OTTAWA – Standing between the U.S. and its second straight trip to the gold-medal game at the World Junior Championship is a Czech team that just beat Canada in Canada and punched its ticket to a fourth consecutive semifinal. Team USA will meet Team Czechia at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. 

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It’s a great matchup between teams of competing styles, but also teams with a lot of international experience and very similar numbers so far at this tournament. This will definitely be a tough matchup.

Team USA is coming off of a first-place finish in Group A, which included an overtime loss to Finland. Czechia finished second in Group B with their only loss coming against Sweden. All of the top seeds won their quarterfinals, so we’ve got the four best teams by record still alive in this tournament.

Here’s what you need to know about Team USA and Team Czechia

Team USA By The Numbers Going Into Semifinals

• Record: 4-0-1-0
• Goals For: 29 | Rank: T-1
• Goals Against: 12 | Rank T-3
• Power Play Efficiency: 7-for-21 (33.3%) | Rank: 2
• Penalty Kill Efficiency: 15-for-19 (78.95%) | Rank: 5
• Team Save Percentage: .920 | Rank: 3

Team Czechia By The Numbers Going Into Semifinals

• Record: 4-0-0-1
• Goals For: 29 | Rank T-1
• Goals Against: 12 | Rank: T-3
• Power Play Efficiency: 5-for-18 (27.8%) | Rank: 5
• Penalty Kill Efficiency: 18-for-22 (81.8%) | Rank: 4
• Team Save Percentage: .916 | Rank: 5

Key Matchups In USA-Czechia Semifinal

USA’s Speed Vs. Czechia’s Defense

USA is a fast team, probably faster than Canada, which is going to present challenges to Czechia’s defense corps, who may have been the unsung heroes of that quarterfinal win against the tournament hosts. They all played pretty well-managed minutes with not one Czech defenseman playing over 20 minutes in the game.

Being able to spread the minutes out like that and trust your D corps is a nice luxury. Now that group gets a day to rest and see what they can do with the American attack, which will present different challenges than Canada did.

The U.S. has a team that can do a bit more east-west and will use their feet well in transition. The American D corps is just good enough at moving pucks throughout their lineup to get it to the forwards quickly. As a result, USA can get behind the defense and direct more pucks to the net from in tight.

Keeping the top line contained is one thing, but USA finally has an effective mix on its second line which has been Danny Nelson (NYI), Oliver Moore (CHI) and Brodie Ziemer (BUF), which makes every team work to get out of their zone. Nelson has been one of the more underrated players in this tournament. He’s been a major factor, especially at five-on-five when it comes to generating and getting scoring chances.

All throughout USA’s lineup, the speed factor will be a potential separating factor. But Czechia’s defense was able to manage Canada’s skill and speed with a commitment to team defense, taking away the middle of the ice and not cheating for offense.

Adam Jiricek (STL) and Jakub Dvorak (LAK) are a solid pairing who will play plenty of key minutes, while Tomas Galvas and Vojtech Husinecky will be the primary pairing to see the bulk of the ice. Galvas is a dangerous power-play weapon, too.

Even Czechia’s “third” pairing of Vojtech Port (ANA) and Jakub Fibigr (SEA) have made their presence known in this tournament. They are no pushovers and play big minutes. 

Each player, one through seven on the back end has what it takes to push this American scoring attack.

Depth On Depth Matchup Will Be Even

This Czech team has some legitimate depth throughout its lineup. Eduard Sale (SEA) has played like an elite winger in this tournament and has been a real leader both as the captain and offensively for Czechia. But he’s not a one-man show.

Adam Jecho (STL) has played down Czechia’s lineup, but still gets quality minutes and he scored the game-winner late against Canada. Petr Sikora (WSH) can be a real difference maker along with Jakub Stancl (STL) on the second Czech line.

Meanwhile, Miroslav Holinka (TOR) will be the guy you see out there in some of the most critical shifts. He played over 21 minutes against Canada because this coaching staff trusts him explicitly in all situations.

We already mentioned how good the Czech blue line is, too. It’s going to be a battle.

USA is going to need contributions, as it has gotten, from their third and fourth lines. Carey Terrance (ANA) has become the new anchor of a third line that includes Teddy Stiga (NSH) and a rotating cast of wingers that includes Trevor Connelly (VGK) most frequently.

USA’s top six can do the work, but if they get shut down, you need some other guys to step up.

That can also be mitigated some by USA’s top defensemen, but as we’ve seen in games, the rest of that blue line is at its best when the game is simplified greatly. USA’s depth defensemen really don’t need to be overcommitting offensively anyway. There’s enough talent up front.

Trey Augustine Vs. Michael Hrabal

Michael Hrabal (UTA) can say something literally no goalie in the history of the World Juniors can – he beat Canada twice in the quarterfinals. It’s never happened before, so he gets that distinction. Meanwhile, he’ll go head-to-head with a fellow NCAA goalie who has a gold medal in this tournament already. So there’s another beast for Hrabal to slay.

Trey Augustine (DET) is expected to start for the U.S. in the semis and the medal game. He has been here twice before. He lost one against Canada as a 17-year-old and beat Finland in a close game last year where he was probably USA’s best player.

There’s no doubt this is a legitimate goalie duel. Hrabal has played every game but one so far at this tournament, posting a .921 save percentage over four starts. Augustine has made three appearances, with rocky starts against Germany and Finland, but a stellar showing against Canada. His save percentage is .914.

Augustine is now USA Hockey’s all-time leader in wins by a goalie at the World Juniors with 11. He’ll look to extend that advantage, but will have to take on a goalie that has had his best for the most part in this tournament, save for a loss against Sweden.

This is going to be an exciting goalie battle between two guys who will get back to college campuses after this tournament with Augustine heading back to Michigan State and Hrabal returning to UMass.

Players To Watch In USA Vs. Czechia Semifinal

Eduard Sale, Czechia, LW (SEA)

He’s been one of the most reliable scorers in this tournament with five goals so far. He has played with tremendous poise and precision in this tournament. When he’s going all-out, he can be as good as any forward in the tournament with enough touch and hockey sense to make the opposition pay. His goal in the dying seconds of the first period against Canada really put that whole team on their heels. He’s hungry for more than playing in the bronze medal game again.

Danny Nelson, USA, C (NYI)

One of the real drivers of Team USA at this tournament, Nelson has been an offensive force, strong on the power play, and possibly USA’s most consistent player at five-on-five. His size and his power have been there, but he’s adding more touch and finish to his game. He probably should have some more points, honestly. Nelson is tied for the team lead with four goals.

Adam Jiricek, Czech, D (STL)

After getting injured in this tournament last year, Jiricek has come back and played a big-time role just as his brother David did two years prior. He has four assists while making good decisions with the puck and being disruptive in his own zone. He has been on the ice for a higher number of goals against, but I think his ability to move pucks and read plays will serve him well in this game.

Zeev Buium, USA, D (MIN)

I’ve thought Buium has gotten better with each game in the tournament, but we still haven’t seen him really open it up offensively. With Czechia’s talent at all positions, USA is going to need contributions from all over its lineup and something more from Buium likely goes a long way. He has four points and is averaging 24 minutes per game. I expect him to be utilized heavily early.

Jakub Stancl, Czechia, C/W (STL)

Leading the Czechs with eight points, Stancl puts himself in the right place at the right time. There’s nothing super flashy about his game, but he has some size and can make plays in the middle of the ice. He has been a critical piece for Czechia to make sure that Sale doesn’t have to be the go-to guy at all times.

James Hagens, USA, C (2025)

I’ve really liked Hagens throughout the tournament, but he did not have points in either of USA’s games against tougher opponents in the preliminary round. He is a driver of the line with Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault, but we’re still looking for that real breakout against one of the big teams. Hagens has to be a factor in the tightest-checking games and this will be his best chance to show it. He is currently tied for second in the tournament with eight points.

Follow FloHockey's Coverage Of Team USA At The WJC

FloHockey is providing comprehensive editorial and video coverage of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. With a team of content creators on site and leading WJC analyst Chris Peters providing stories and columns throughout the event, make FloHockey your home to learn more about the 2025 World Juniors. FloHockey will be following Team USA and Team Canada closely, while tracking the rest of the tournament on site. See all the stories here.

How To Watch The 2025 World Junior Championship

The 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship will air on TSN and RDS on television in Canada. The tournament will be streamed on TSN+ in Canada, as well. 

In the United States, NHL Network will be the television home of the World Junior Championship. Streaming information for USA is not currently available.

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