'It's horrible': Team USA ousted by Czechia in world junior quarterfinals

Team USA was eliminated from the world junior hockey championships with a 4-2 loss against Czechia on Thursday at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta.

Jackson's Carter Mazur, a third-round draft choice of the Detroit Red Wings in 2021, was named the U.S. player of the game. Mazur scored a goal midway through the third period to narrow Czechia's lead to 3-2 but the defending gold medalists allowed an empty-net goal and finished in fifth pace.

"It's horrible," said Phoenix Coyotes' first-round pick Logan Cooley, who scored the other goal for Team USA. "Obviously for the '02 players, this was their last shot. It's terrible the way it ended but happy with the way the guys battled and couldn't complain effort-wise. The Czechs like to clog it up in the middle. I think we just needed to chip it in a little more. It just didn't happen too much."

Mazur, Thomas Bordeleau (University of Michigan), and Luke Hughes (Canton) were named the top 3 players of the tournament for the United States. Other members of the team included Wolverines' Mackie Samoskevich and Jacob Truscott, Dominic James (Plymouth), Red Savage (Red Wings prospect) and Sasha Pastujov (Belle Tire/Compuware).

“These games are tough and we struggled to get into our game today,” U.S. coach Nate Leaman said. “Our first 10 minutes were good but we struggled to manage the puck. We played a good Czechia team, they played hard and blocked a lot of shots, and you have to tip your hat to them.”

Czechia will face Canada in Friday's opening semifinal at 4 p.m. Sweden will play Finland in the other semi at 8 p.m.

Logan Stankoven had two goals and an assist in Canada's 6-3 win over Switzerland.

Wings draft pick Donovan Sebrango had one shot and was even in 20:12 of ice time and Michigan's Kent Johnson had an assist, a team-high five shots and was plus-2.

In the afternoon quarterfinals, Sweden beat Latvia 2-1 and Finland topped Germany 5-2.

Emil Andrae broke a tie for Sweden midway through the third period with Red Wings prospect William Wallinder setting up the goal.

Detroit draft picks Simon Edvinsson had two shots in 18:43 of ice time and Theodor Niederbach has two shots in 17:52 of ice time.

Roby Jarventie had two goals and two assists for Finland. Wings prospect Eemil Viro was scoreless in 17:33 of ice time.