WJC Round-Up: Americans & Czechs Back in Win Column

Spokane Chiefs Kailer Yamamoto and Filip Kral both got back to winning ways with their respective teams in their third game at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, N.Y. on Friday and Saturday.

—

Yamamoto and Team USA took on Canada in the first ever WJC outdoor game at New Era Field in Buffalo, braving snowy, windy conditions to come back and win in a shootout over the rival Canadians, 4-3. Yamamoto had 1 SOG and was +1 as the Americans erased a two-goal third period deficit to win in the rematch of last year’s championship game.

—

Kral and the Czechs survived in a wild offensive showcase against Belarus on Saturday morning, 6-5. Belarus jumped out to a 2-0 lead with two goals early in the second period. From there, the Czech Republic team came to life, scoring the game’s next five goals to take a 5-2 lead before hanging on late for the win. Kral recorded 1 SOG in 19:15 TOI.