![](https://zilina2024.esports.cz/files/articles_photo/147_wcj-cze-usa-20.jpg)
7th July 2024 - Derek OBrien
USA claims U16 bronze medal
Niké Arena 1
Czechia Red U16 - USA U16
Goals and assists
7. Chýle (Hradil, Fiala) - 23. Basilio (Nasuti, Goss), 39. Moore (ts.), 44. Weldon
Referees
Miroslav Sála, Gabriel Hatala
Official game sheet
Czechia Red U16
Charvát - Kopelent, Fiala, Hruška, Votava, Křivánek, V. Adam (C), Grof, Gelhof, Čtvrtečka - Kupka (A), Jankůj, Hradil, Hasal, Schnaubelt, Zahálka (C), Chýle, Krása, Tichý, Čaloun, Schwach, Šimic
USA U16
Moffett - Ambrose, Lammi, Ritz, Simon, Horner, Bonari (A), Weitzel - Goss, Costello, Dewitt, Persson, Moore, Waldron, Basilio, Boyer, Defazio, Fink, Nasuti, Weldon
The first period was evenly played, but the Czechs scored the only goal in the seventh minute, when American goalie Collin Moffett was beaten by Jonáš Chýle. The Americans pushed hard for the equalizer, but Ondřej Charvát kept them off the board.
Finally, in the 23rd minute, Basilio tied the score 1-1. The knife-edge battle continued, but the Czechs' momentum was stunted by a string of penalties. For the USA, Jackson Nasuti was assessed a major penalty.
Still tied in the third period, Moore was awarded a penalty shot in the 39th minute and converted, giving the Americans their first lead of the game. The expected onslaught of from the Czechs did not come, however. Shortly after the return of Filip Grof from the penalty box, Mac Weldon netted an insurance goal for the USA. The Czechs pulled their goalie in the final minute, but were not able to cut into the deficit.
COACHES´ REACTIONS
Pavel Štefka (CZR): "I think that today's game fully exposed what has been troubling us throughout the tournament. We didn't capitalize on our power plays and failed to convert the chances we had. Conversely, we conceded goals while shorthanded, and that was decisive in the game. Of course, we are disappointed with the tournament because we wanted a medal, especially since our U16 team won last year in Liberec. The only thing that can console us is that we defeated a strong Canadian team, but overall, the disappointment prevails."
Ryan
Shannon (USA): “We had times when we went up and down this week. It’s not the medal
we wanted to play for but when you get a chance to win a medal, you have to
come together as a team, and we did just that today. We can’t be more proud of
the boys. Our goal was to come here to win the gold medals. That didn’t happen,
but more importantly, we’re going home with a medal and we were here as a family.
It’s really difficult to win at these tournaments, there are so many good teams
with so much talent and so many great players. Our players stuck together through
the ups and downs and stayed focused on the main goal.”