CALGARY, Alberta – Malik Jones (Aurora, Colo.) tallied the go-ahead goal with 7:01 remaining in the game as the U.S. National Sled Team topped Czechia, 3-1, in the semifinals of the 2024 World Para Ice Hockey Championship at WinSport Arena. 

With the win, the U.S. advances to its ninth-consecutive gold medal game. The U.S. will face the winner of Friday’s second semifinal game between Canada and China. Puck drop for Sunday’s gold medal game is set for 5:30 p.m. MT and will be live streamed on the NBC Sports YouTube channel. 

“It was a challenging environment for us today, we struggled to finish a few chances and weren’t able to get any cushion early,” said David Hoff, head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. “But I thought that we were in such a tough environment in the third and we were able to finish and pull through, I think it showed a lot of character from our guys.” 

Chris Douglas (Saint Cloud, Fla.) opened the scoring for the U.S. 8:56 into the contest when he capitalized on a one-timer from the slot after the puck was poked off the stick of Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.). 

Neither team found the back of the net in the middle stanza. Griffin LaMarre (Haverhill, Mass.) opened the third with a diving save to hold the U.S. lead. 

At the 5:11 mark of the final frame, Martin Zizlavsky scored to knot the game up at one apiece. 

Jones put Team USA back out in front with 7:01 to play in the contest when he batted home the go-ahead goal from just outside the crease after gathering a loose puck from a scrum out in front.  

Czechia had two opportunities to tie the game late in the third, but were unable to capitalize. With 1:01 left in the game, Filip Vesely received a breakaway pass just inside the blue line, but the puck rolled just off his stick as he closed in on the net. During an ensuing scramble in front of the net, Farmer blocked two point-blank shots to maintain the U.S.’ one-goal lead.  

With time expiring, Chris Douglas (Saint Cloud, Fla.) iced the game for the United States, taking a pass from Brody Roybal (Northlake, Ill.) and tapping it into the empty net to give the U.S. a 3-1 lead. 

LaMarre recorded six saves in net. 

NOTES: The U.S. outshot Czechia 22-7 … The U.S. was 1-3 on the power play, while Czechia was 0-3 … Chris Douglas was named U.S. Player of the Game.