VIERUMÄKI, Finland - Despite rallying from a two-goal deficit in the third period, the U.S. National Under-17 Team fell in overtime, 6-5, in the semifinals of the Vierumaki Cup at Vierumaki Ice Arena.

Czechia answered five minutes later, tying the game off a faceoff. The teams went to the intermission deadlocked at 1–1.

Early in the second period, Michal Hartl scored on the power play to give Czechia the lead.

Team USA answered right back. Kane Barch (Plano, Texas) picked up the puck out of the corner in the offensive zone and attempted to thread a cross-crease pass to Cannon Thibodeau (Charleston, S.C.). The puck was deflected onto the stick of Diego Gutierrez (Flower Mound, Texas), who buried the chance for his first goal of the season.

The back-and-forth pace continued throughout the second period, as Czechia quickly responded to regain the lead.

Alexander Milojevic (Chicago, Ill.) capitalized on a Czech turnover in its own end. On an attempted clearing play, Milojevic stepped in and snagged the puck out of midair, then skated into the slot and snapped a shot past the goaltender to tie the game at 3–3.

Czechia again had an answer, reclaiming the lead and carrying a 4–3 advantage into the third period.

In the final frame, Czechia scored its second power-play goal of the game at 19:04, extending its lead to two goals.

Freddie Schneider (Edina, Minn.) pulled the U.S. within one. Racing in on the rush, Finnegan Sears slipped a cross-ice pass past the Czech defense and onto Schneider’s stick, and Schneider finished at the net to make it 5–4 with eight minutes remaining.

With just over two minutes remaining, Team USA went on the power play and Brayden Willis (Gilbert, Ariz.) delivered the equalizer. Taking the puck at the point, Willis skated in and snapped a shot into the back of the net to force overtime.

However, in overtime, Czechia scored its third power-play goal of the game to secure a 6–5 victory.

Nate Chizik (Warrington, Pa.) started in net and made 22 saves.

The U.S. will face either Sweden or Finland in the third-place game tomorrow morning. Coverage will be live on Leijonat TV.