NHL Network will broadcast every game of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa. It includes comprehensive coverage of the U.S. National Junior Team, which will play the Czech Republic in the semifinals at the Canadian Tire Center on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET). In the quarterfinals on Thursday, the United States beat Switzerland 7-2, and the Czech Republic beat Canada 4-3.
NHL Network's EJ Hradek will handle the play-by-play with former NHL forward Tony Granato providing color commentary. Mike Kelly and John Morosi will also be part of the coverage, and longtime NCAA hockey analyst Dave Starman will provide in-studio analysis and give his three keys to victory for the USA before each of its games during the 11-day tournament.
“It is not surprising that the United States easily beat Switzerland, and it shows how important seeding is in this tournament,” Starman said. “Personally, I think we should get back to the top three in each crossing group because there is a big difference between the third and fourth-placed team. Latvia, or as AJ Hradek and I like to call them, the pesky Latvians, did more for Sweden than they expected, but the Swedes In the medal round they were unreliable. At the World Junior Championships, the Swiss came out flying, but the truth is they played well for about two minutes, and there was an interesting conversation between me and the staff. The American The focus recently has been on how well the Americans will handle the success after the emotional win over Canada on December 31, how they will come out against a team they know they are much better than, and which they have handled well.
“So, go to the Czechs. Before the tournament, my opinion was that the two worst games for the USA, in order, were the Czechs and Finland. They each play hard, limit time and space, defend the middle ice, play five to the frame, and each of them can score.” “It takes some effort when you play in difficult areas. It's a great match for the fans, and a big test for the United States.”
Here are Starman's three keys to a US win against the Czechs:
1. Czech transfer
“The Czechs can move and expand the rink. They don't match the speed of the Americans, and no one in the tournament does. What the Czechs can do is get up the ice quickly and be intentional with the puck. They don't worry about aesthetics. Hockey, but they're skilled and deep enough.” To play it, they rely on playing in straight lines on the ice with numbers and they can find the home run pass. The funny thing is that if you look at the analytics report (from the game), you will see that Canada won In the eyeball test, they're a good team at “the little things.”
2. Stay unique
“This 5v5 match is interesting… This 5v4 match is another story based on what we saw. No one can kill penalties in the final stages of the tournament. The skill of each player. The top power play unit in the team is very good. Where the US power play changed the game and the Czech power play was influential, so it sticks to the back of the legs, where you push your opponent a lot of times… This is not a game. Don't believe me? Ask Canada, who lost to the Czechs with a late goal.
3. Goalkeeper Union
“These games can depend on goaltending and you have the top two in the tournament and probably in the NCAA, Michigan State's Trey Augustine will likely be the starter for USA, and if for some reason he doesn't play, Western's Hampton Slukynsky Michigan is a first-team goaltender in college hockey's top conference, NCHC Augustine is 2-1 with a 2.97 goals-against average, 0.912 save percentage and was impressive against Canada, 2-0. He has a 1.50 GAA and .938 save percentage Augustine played the two best teams the USA has faced, beating Canada, and lost in overtime to the University of Finland Massachusetts goalie Michael Hrabal of the Czech Republic is 3-1, 2.52 GAA and .921 save percentage, and was great at losing shots USA tipoff at 2024 World Jewish Congress Ottawa is on fire this year having just beaten the Canadians for the second year on straight.
