USA beats Czechia to win ninth Women’s U-18 World Championship Gold Medal

One of the powers in women’s hockey has reclaimed the top of the mountain.

On Sunday, the United States outlasted upstart Czechia to win the gold medal at the 2024 IIHF Women’s Under-18 World Championship in Zug, Switzerland.

The Czechs put together a solid effort against a team they have never beaten in tournament play, but two goals from Kassidy Carmichael pushed the Americans to a 5-1 win, clinching USA’s record ninth gold medal in tournament history.

Czechia tried to catch the Americans off guard, testing U.S. goaltender Layla Hemp with a couple of early scoring chances. Yet, they gave the United States a power play just minutes into the game.

The U.S. looked like they scored the opening goal, as a shot by Jordyn Petrie snuck through Aneta Senkova. However, the goal went under review, and it was determined Anabella Fanale had stepped into the crease, negating the goal.

Nevertheless, the Americans struck first, as Maggie Scannell scored just past the halfway mark of the first period, with 15-year-old Haley Box making it 2-0 just over a minute later.

Czechia had a glorious opportunity to get back into the game when Petrie was given a five-minute major for boarding and game misconduct in the second period. Yet, thanks to some big stops by Hemp, the U.S. killed it off.

The Czechs finally broke through on another power play, as captain Adela Sapovalivova scored to cut the deficit in half.

However, Carmichael scored twice in the third, with Ava Thomas adding the empty-net goal to secure the first gold medal for the U.S. at the Women’s U-18s since 2020.

The U.S. ended the tournament with a 6-0 record, outscoring opponents 32-5.

It was extra sweet for a couple of Americans. Captain Maggie Scannell and Josie St. Martin were playing for their country for the third consecutive tournament, having lost to Canada in the championship game in 2022, ending up with bronze last year. The duo finished tied for the team lead with nine points apiece.

Morgan McGathey, a Harvard commit, finished right behind them with two goals and six assists.

Hemp, who only had to make 11 saves in the championship game, ended up going 5-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage.

Despite the loss, it was a memorable run for Czechia. They had never made it to a Gold Medal Game in any top-division, best-on-best women’s tournament, only having won bronze twice at the U-18s.

Sapovalivova led the Czechs with 11 points, tied for , finishing second in the tournament with nine goals. She ends her three-year run with the U-18 national team with 26 points in 16 career games, the most of any player from Czechia in tournament history. Sapovalivova’s play in Switzerland led to her being named the Forward of the Tournament.

Senkova made 26 saves on the 28 shots she faced in the final, and ended up with a a 2.40 GAA and .908 SV% in five starts. Her play in the medal round, especially against Canada in the semifinals, was a huge reason why the Czechs were playing for gold, earning the title as the tournament’s best goaltender.

Canada won its second bronze medal earlier in the day, trouncing Finland in an 8-1 win. In two games, the Canadians beat the Fins by a combined score of 18-1. Defender Chloe Primerano ended up leading the tournament with 16 points and was named top defender and tournament MVP. Caitlin Kraemer led all skaters with 10 goals.

Next year’s event will be held in Vantaa, Finland next January, with Japan returning to the top division after going 5-0 in the DIA Championships.

Here’s a look at the final standings:

1. United States (6-0-0)
2. Czechia (3-3-0)
3. Canada (5-1-0)
4. Finland (3-3-0)
5. Sweden (3-2-0)
6. Slovakia (1-4-0)
7. Switzerland (1-3-1)
8. Germany (0-5 , relegated)