Czechia eliminated the United States from the 2024 World Championship with a 1-0 victory in Thursday's quarterfinals.
Pavel Zacha put the host nation ahead with a power-play goal in the second period, and goaltender Lukas Dostal stood on his head for a 36-save shutout.
Many expected the United States to compete for gold this spring, as the deep American roster features Brady Tkachuk, Cole Caufield, Matt Boldy, and Johnny Gaudreau, among others. Instead, the country's tournament championship drought is now up to 92 years.
Czechia hasn't won the event since 2010. The 2022 team was the last to finish on the podium, collecting a bronze medal.
Canada, Switzerland, and Sweden also advanced Thursday and will join the host country in the next round. Both semifinal games will take place on Saturday.
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