MOOSE JAW, Sask. -- The U.S. National Sled Hockey Team will begin its World Para Ice Hockey Championship campaign on Monday against Czechia in a preliminary round contest. This is the first of three preliminary games for the U.S. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET, and the game will be available to stream live on the Paralympics YouTube and Facebook. 

The U.S. enters the tournament with an 11-2-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record on the season after winning the International Para Hockey Cup in Ostrava, Czechia, in September, 2022, as well as the Para Hockey Cup in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, in November, 2022. 

Team USA has won five World Para Ice Hockey Championships (2009, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021), and is playing for the third-straight gold medal at the event. 

Against Czechia, the U.S. is 3-0-1-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) at the World Championship and 9-0-1-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) across all competitions all-time. The U.S. and Czechia have met twice this season, with the Team USA winning both contests.