LANDSHUT, Germany – The U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team takes on Czechia this afternoon in its second preliminary-round contest of the 2022 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship. Puck drop is slated for 3:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m. ET) at Fanatec Arena and the game will broadcast live on NHL Network.
Last night, Team USA topped Canada by an 8-3 final in its opening game of the tournament. Isaac Howard (Hudson, Wis.) scored four goals to tie a tournament and U.S. record for most goals in a single game at the IIHF U18 Men's World Championship.
"Ike's got a real unique ability to finish," head coach Adam Nightingale (Cheboygan, Mich.) said after the game. "I like how he created, playing tenacious and getting to the inside. Now it's about moving on to the next game and getting ready to go tomorrow."
Howard, a returner from last year's team that took fifth place in Texas, added an assist for five points on the evening, one more than his entire tournament total in 2021.
Logan Cooley (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Ryan Chesley (Mahtomedi, Minn.) and Frank Nazar (Mount Clemens, Mich.) all added multi-point efforts for Team USA.
Czechia won its opening game of the tournament, topping host Germany by a 4-2 final Saturday afternoon. The Czechs erased two early, one-goal deficits with a barrage of power-play markers in the second period, including two from captain Jiri Kulich.
ALL-TIME AGAINST CZECHIA
The U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team is 13-2-1-1 all-time against Czechia in the tournament, going 6-1-0-0 in preliminary-round play. In last year's preliminary-round matchup, the U.S. used a Lane Hutson (North Barrington, Ill.) shootout goal to top the Czechs, 2-1. The prelim history between the two teams is below:
April 19, 2021 -- USA 2, Czechia 1 (SO)
April 17, 2017 -- USA 5, Czechia 2
April 19, 2014 -- USA 3, Czechia 0
April 20, 2013 -- USA 4, Czechia 3
April 14, 2012 -- USA 5, Czechia 0
April 15, 2006 -- USA 5, Czechia 0
April 19, 2005 -- USA 4, Czechia 3