The USA Hockey National Team Development Program’s U17 team won gold at the World U17 Hockey Challenge on Saturday night, beating Czechia 3-0 in the championship game in Oakville, Ont. Carter Morris scored twice, including a third-period power-play goal, and Mason Martin made 30 saves for the shutout a night after stopping 44 shots in the semifinal.
How it happened
Morris opened the scoring at 18:24 of the first period, assisted by Dean Stevens and Joey Cullen. Neither team scored in the second period, when Czechia outshot the U.S. 12-11.
Morris doubled the lead on the power play at 12:15 of the third, set up by Cullen and Drew Daley. Cameron Evans sealed it with an empty-net goal at 19:48, assisted by Landon Knott.
By the numbers
The U.S. outshot Czechia 35-30. Martin stopped all 30 shots he faced, including 14 in the third period, and Novotny made 32 saves on 34 shots for Czechia. Cullen finished with two assists.
The Americans reached the final with a 5-2 semifinal win over Canada White on Friday. Canada Red took the bronze medal Saturday with an 8-4 win over Canada White.
What’s next
The U17 team returns to Plymouth and its USHL schedule. Meanwhile, the NTDP U18 team finishes the Five Nations tournament in Kloten, Switzerland, against the host Swiss on Sunday at 10 a.m. ET before hosting the Chicago Steel on Nov. 13 and 14.
Earlier on Mitten Hockey: NTDP U17 Game Recap: vs. Canada White (Nov. 6).
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