Gabriel Szturc and Czechia stun Americans to advance to semis at 2022 World Juniors

Kelowna Rockets forward Gabriel Szturc and Czechia made the tournament’s biggest upset thus far, sending the Americans packing with a 4-2 victory in last night’s quarter-final matchup at the 2022 World Junior Championship in Edmonton, Alta.

Entering the game the Czechs were considered the underdog, having only won one of four games during the preliminary round, while the Americans were a perfect 4-0.

The Americans jumped out to a 1-0 lead 12:03 into the first, but Hamilton Bulldog Jan Mysak tipped a shot to tie up the game before the end of the first.

Cape Breton Eagles forward Ivan Ivan and Saginaw Spirit forward Matyas Sapovaliv pushed Czechia ahead in the second with a pair of goals.

With a scramble in front of the net, the U.S. crashed the net making it a one-goal game with 11:31 to play in the third. Czechia kept their cool, adding an empty netter in the final minutes of the game to regain a two-goal cushion.

Szturc posted a shot on goal through 18:22 of ice time.

The U.S. outshot Czechia 30 to 24, Tri-City American goalie Tomas Suchanek stood tall all night long for Czechia making 28 saves.

Czechia will now face Canada on Friday in a 1:00 pm PT semifinal matchup, Sweden and Finland will battle in the other matchup.