"It was a strong response from our loss to Russia," U.S. National Under-17 Team head coach Seth Appert (Cottage Grove, Minn.) said. "The Czechs make the game very difficult but we stayed with our game plan and pulled away in the third period. Our PK [penalty kill] unit and goaltending was strong again.  Now we have earned the opportunity to play for a championship vs. Sweden on Sunday.” 

Commesso, who owns three shutouts across all competitions, stopped all 19 shots for Team USA to earn the win. The Boston University commit has stopped 62 of 65 shots in the first three games of the Five Nations Tournament.

Ty Smilanic's (Elizabeth, Colo.) second-period tally, a wrist shot from the right circle represented his second goal and fifth point of the event. Dylan Peterson (Roseville, Calif.) and Eamon Powell (Marcellus, N.Y.) picked up assists on the rush.

Smilanic (2-4-6) holds the team lead with six points across three games at the Five Nations Tournament. Peterson sits second with five points (1-4-5).

Daniyal Dzhaniyev (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Chase Yoder (Fairview, Texas) both registered their first goals of the tournament with third-period tallies to widen the lead.

Commesso staved off nine shots from the Czechs in the final frame to seal the win. 

The U17s return to the ice Sunday with an opportunity to claim first place at the 2019 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament against host Sweden. Puck drop is set for 6 a.m. ET at Stiga Arena.

NOTES: Team USA went 0-for-4 on the power play and killed off all seven penalties it faced ... The U17s outshot the Czech Republic by a 37-19 margin ... Drew Commesso earned Player of the Game recognition.