The semi-final is over and the opponent and the date for the duel to defend the bronze plaque are already clear. Patrik Augusta's team will not have even twenty hours to rest, as they will challenge Sweden from 21:30!
The regular season already offered a clash between the two players. For the Czech players it was the final game before the knockout fights, but the previous three victories were not followed up. After a scoreless first period, the Swedes managed to score four goals in the second period, to which the Czechs could not respond.
Tre Kronor's way to the top four was through the Latvians, who did not give their opponents anything for free. The Swedes still held a comfortable 3:0 lead before the halfway point of regulation time, but then Mateiko came up with a quick answer and the same player reduced it to a one-goal difference in the same period. But that was also the last entry on the scorer's list and the Scandinavians headed to the semifinals.
In the fight for a possible participation in the finals, a great story was taken care of after the draw, as Tre Kronor challenged the Finns. An evenly matched contest eventually went to overtime, where Suomi's power play decided their progress.
The match between Sweden and the Czech Republic will be broadcast on 5 January at 21:30 on CT Sport. The duel between Finland and USA will be shown on 6 January from 1:30 pm also on CT Sport.
USA - CZECH REPUBLIC 4:1 (1:1, 1:0, 2:0)
Goals and assists: 4. Perreault (Leonard, Minnetian), 34. Eiserman (Connelly, Hutson), 56. Leonard (Perreault, Minnetian), 59. Moore (Nelson, Svoboda) - 10. Štancl
USA: Augustine (Slukynsky) - Fortescue, Buium (A), Hutson, Kleber, Ralph, Hensler, Minnetian - Perreault (A), Hagens, Leonard (C) - Moore, Nelson, Ziemer - Connelly, Terrance, Stiga - Burnevik, Svoboda, Plante - Eiserman.
CR: Hrabal (Kavan) - Galvas, Husinecký, Dvořák, Jiříček, Fibigr, Port, Kočí - Šalé (C), Holinka, Maštaliřský (A) - Sikora, Hradec (A), Štancl - Čihař, Felcman, Jecho - Kos, Petr, Židlický - Novotný.
Moment of the match: A couple of situations, one on each side, which definitely decided the winner of the duel. First, Adam Jecho hit the concrete of goalkeeper Augustine in a great chance, then Ryan Leonard - the scorer of America's third goal - took advantage of the Czech team's incorrect substitution.
Player of the Match: We vote for the only Czech shooter Jakub Štancl. His exhibition shot in the first period tied the score.
Match statistics: Even though it was not enough to advance to the final, the Czechs outplayed their opponent by 27:25. Certainly one of the positives that Patrik Augusta's charges will want to carry over to the final competition.
What's next: After one year, Czech youngsters will play for bronze again at the World Championships. Moreover, they will play again with a Scandinavian country, but this time with the Swedes.
Group phase:
| Thursday 26 December, 18:00 | B | Slovakia - Sweden | 2:5 |
| Thursday 26 December, 20:30 | A | USA - Germany | 10:4 |
| Thursday 26 December, 23:00 | B | Czech Republic - Switzerland | 5:1 |
| Friday 27 December, 1:30 | A | Finland - Canada | 0:4 |
| Friday 27 December, 19:00 | B | Switzerland - Slovakia | 1:2 |
| Friday 27 December, 21:30 | A | Germany - Finland | 1:3 |
| Friday 27 December, 23:00 | B | Sweden - Kazakhstan | 8:1 |
| Saturday, December 28, 1:30 | A | Latvia - Canada | 3:2 sn |
| Saturday, December 28, 19:00 | B | Kazakhstan - Czech Republic | 2:14 |
| Saturday, December 28, 21:30 | A | Latvia - USA | 1:5 |
| Sunday 29 December, 18:00 | B | Switzerland - Sweden | 5:7 |
| Sunday 29 December, 20:30 | A | USA - Finland | 3.4 pp |
| Sunday 29 December, 23:00 | B | Czech Republic - Slovakia | 4:2 |
| Monday, December 30, 1:30 a.m. | A | Canada - Germany | 3:0 |
| Monday, December 30, 19:00 | B | Slovakia - Kazakhstan | 5:4 AET |
| Monday, December 30, 21:30 | A | Germany - Latvia | 3:4 AET |
| Tuesday 31 December, 18:00 | B | Kazakhstan - Switzerland | 1:3 |
| Tuesday 31 December, 20:30 | A | Finland - Latvia | 3:0 |
| Tuesday 31 December, 23:00 | B | Sweden - Czech Republic | 4:2 |
| Wednesday, January 1, 1:30 | A | Canada - USA | 1:4 |
Group A
| Ranking | Team | Z | V | Vpp | Vsn | Psn | Ppp | P | Score | Body |
| 1. | USA | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22:10 | 10 |
| 2. | Finland | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10:8 | 8 |
| 3. | Canada | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10:7 | 7 |
| 4. | Latvia | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8:13 | 4 |
| 5. | Germany | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 8:20 | 1 |
Group B
| Ranking | Team | Z | V | Vpp | Vsn | Psn | Ppp | P | Score | Body |
| 1. | Sweden | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24:10 | 12 |
| 2. | CZECH | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 25:9 | 9 |
| 3. | Slovakia | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11:14 | 5 |
| 4. | Switzerland | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10:15 | 3 |
| 5. | Kazakhstan | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 8:30 | 1 |
About keeping
Thursday, January 2, 18:00: Germany - Kazakhstan 4:3
Play off
Quarterfinals
Thursday, January 2, 18:00: Sweden - Latvia 3:2
Thursday, January 2, 20:30: USA - Switzerland 7:2
Thursday, January 2, 23:00: Finland - Slovakia 5:3
Friday, January 3, 1:30: Czech Republic - Canada 4:3
semifinals:
Saturday, January 4, 21:30: Sweden - Finland 3:4 AET
Sunday, January 5, 1:30: Czech Republic - USA 1:4
for 3rd place: Sunday 5 January, 21:30: Czech Republic - Sweden
Final: Monday, January 6, 1:30: USA - Finland
Czech hockey/gnews - RoZ
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