U.S. Down Czechs in OT to Advance to U17 Challenge Semis

USA Hockey National Team Development Program

U.S. Down Czechs in OT to Advance to U17 Challenge Semis

By USA Hockey's NTDP, 11/07/24, 6:30PM EST

Schairer scores 28 seconds into overtime; U.S. overcomes three-goal deficit

Photo by Thomas Skrlj/Hockey Canada Images

SARNIA, Ontario - Luke Shairer (Charlotte, N.C.) scored 32 seconds into overtime to lift the U.S. National Under-17 Team to a 4-3 comeback win over Czechia to advance to the semifinals of the 2024 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Dayne Beuker (Portland, Ore.) fed Schairer the puck at the top of the U.S. zone and Schairer cut back, gained speed and hammered the puck past Czechia netminder Jan Larys for the game-winner.

With the win, Team USA advances to the 2024 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge semifinal tomorrow from the Progressive Auto Sales Arena. Opponent and puck drop are to be determined. The game can be streamed live here.

Czechia broke the ice 3:41 in as David Huk picked up a rebound of an initial pad save by Luke Carrithers (Maple Grove, Minn.) to take a 1-0 lead. The U.S., despite holding a 15-7 edge on shots after 20, were unable to break through.

Box Score

2024 WU17HC

The Czechs doubled their lead 6:06 into the second with a goal by Dominik Krajdl from the left circle, then Jiri Maxa added a third with 50 seconds left in the period.

Lukas Zajic (Plainfield, Ill.) got the U.S. on the board 14 seconds into the final frame with a score from along the goal line off a feed from Victor Plante (Hermantown, Minn.) after a Casey Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.) faceoff win at center ice.

Mikey Berchild (Minnetonka, Minn.) cut Team USA's deficit to one with 11:44 left in the contest, finishing a play between Sammy Nelson (Maple Grove, Minn.) and Wyatt Cullen (Moorhead, Minn.).

The U.S. pulled Carrithers for the extra attacker and Nelson found Berchild at the top of the right circle, who sent a laser past Jan Larys to send the game to overtime with 3.7 seconds on the clock.

Carrithers finished with 24 saves to earn his first international win and Berchild was named the U.S. player of the game.