The 2024 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship culminates in a surprising yet thrilling matchup – the underdog Czech Republic U18 team faces the mighty USA U18 for the gold medal. While many anticipated a North American showdown, the Czechs have defied expectations, carving their own path to the finals with sheer grit and talent.
How to Watch USA vs Czech Republic
What it is: 2024 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship
Matchup: USA U18 W vs Czech Republic U18 W
Game type: Play Offs – Finals
Date: Sunday Jan. 14, 2024
Time: 1pm ET, 19:00 (Local Time)
Venue: Bossard Arena (Zug)
Live stream: Watch here
Broadcast: The 2024 IIHF World Women’s U18 Finals USA vs Czech Republic is shown in several countries by broadcasters on TV and/or stream.
TSN
RDS
NHL Network
SVT Sweden
Discovery Finland
Swiss digital / ringier sports
This isn’t just any game for Czechia. It’s a chance to write history, as they chase their first-ever gold medal in this tournament. The excitement has reached unprecedented levels, prompting CT Sport to become the first channel to broadcast the U18 final on national television. The Czechs have already stunned the world with their upset victory over Canada in the semifinals, and a win against the U.S. would be nothing short of seismic.
Captain Adela Sapovalivova, the heart and soul of the Czech team, is determined to make the dream a reality. “We want to win a gold like we won the semi-final,” she declares. “We will give our energy to the game tomorrow. Hopefully we will win. We will see.”
On paper, the Americans stand as heavy favorites. But underestimating the Czechs would be a mistake. Their opening-game shootout victory against the U.S., albeit a warm-up match, served as a potent reminder of their capabilities. Sapovalivova’s offensive prowess, backed by Plosova and Cabelova, and the heroics of goalie Aneta Senkova, laid the foundation for their success in Zug.
However, the U.S. remains a formidable opponent. Head coach Liz Keady Norton is aware of the challenge, emphasizing, “They have an excellent coach, real talent, and an outstanding goaltender. We have to stick to our plan, outwork them, and play with utmost discipline.” Forward Josie St Martin echoes the cautious optimism, saying, “We saw what happened with the Czechs and Canada. But we’re just going to bring our best and be dialed in tomorrow.”
This final promises to be a captivating clash of styles and aspirations. Can the Czech fairy tale continue, or will the U.S. reclaim their dominance? Tune in on Sunday, January 14th, at 1pm ET (19:00 local time) to witness history unfold at the Bossard Arena in Zug.
USA vs Czech Republic hockey, IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship, finals, underdog, Cinderella story, gold medal, Czechia, upset victory, Sapovalivova, Keady Norton
