If you were looking for a tight, defensive struggle, you definitely tuned into the wrong channel.
Honestly, it wasn't even close. The U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team didn't just win; they essentially dismantled Czechia in a 9-1 blowout that felt even more lopsided than the score suggests. This happened during the preliminary round of the 2026 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship, and if you’ve been following this roster, you know they’re on a bit of a tear right now.
Coming off a massive 13-0 win against Slovakia just a day prior, there was some chatter about whether they’d have the legs for a back-to-back. They answered that pretty quickly. By the time the first intermission rolled around, the game was basically decided.
The Jane Daley Show Continues
Most people are talking about Jane Daley today, and for good reason. It’s not every day you see a player record back-to-back hat tricks in international play.
She opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal in the first period, which is a gutsy way to set the tone. She didn't stop there. Daley eventually netted her second consecutive hat trick of the tournament, scoring her third goal early in the third period from almost the exact same spot on the ice as her first two. It was a clinic in finding the soft spots in a defense.
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A Team Effort Beyond the Hat Trick
While Daley gets the headlines, the depth of this 2026 roster is what’s actually scary for the rest of the field.
Talla Hansen and Alaina Gnetz both found the back of the net, with Gnetz picking up her first of the tournament. The puck movement was crisp, and the U.S. ended up outshooting the Czechs by a staggering 53-16 margin.
- Jane Daley: 3 goals (Hat Trick)
- Talla Hansen: 1 goal
- Alaina Gnetz: 1 goal
- Maggie Averill: 1 goal
- Lindsay Stepnowski: 1 goal
- Jillian McLaughlin: 1 goal
- Kylie Amelkovich: 1 goal
Bianca Birrittieri got the nod in net and was solid, stopping 15 of 16 shots to earn her first career win with the U-18 National Team. She even managed to snag an assist on the team’s sixth goal, which is a nice little bonus for a goaltender’s stat sheet.
Why This Win Actually Matters
You might look at a 9-1 score and think it’s just a mismatch, but Czechia is actually a disciplined team. They managed to sneak a power-play goal past Birrittieri in the second period, momentarily breaking the shutout and showing they still had some fight.
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Head coach Courtney Kennedy noted after the game that she was proud of the "resilient effort" and the ability to stay detail-oriented during a lopsided game. In these tournaments, point differential and momentum are everything. The U.S. is now 2-0 in the preliminary round and looks like the team to beat heading into the knockout stages.
The atmosphere in Membertou, Nova Scotia, has been surprisingly electric for these games. Even with the chilly weather outside, the arena has been buzzing, likely because this U.S. team plays such a high-tempo, aggressive style of hockey.
What's Next for Team USA?
The team had a scheduled day off on Monday, January 12, to recover from the back-to-back scoring frenzies. They spent it doing "mobility sessions" and, interestingly enough, playing a competitive game of "telephone" in the meal room to keep spirits high.
The real test comes today, Tuesday, January 13.
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The U.S. faces off against Finland to close out the preliminary round. Finland is traditionally a much tougher out than Slovakia or Czechia, often bringing a physical, defensive-minded game that can frustrate high-scoring offenses.
Game Info for Today:
- Opponent: Finland
- Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
- Channel: NHL Network
- Location: Membertou, Nova Scotia
If the U.S. can maintain this level of offensive pressure while staying disciplined on the penalty kill—they were 2-for-6 on the power play against Czechia—they should secure the top seed heading into the quarterfinals.
Keep an eye on the defensive pairings. While the goals are fun to watch, the U.S. defense has only allowed one goal in 120 minutes of play. That’s the kind of stat that wins gold medals.
Actionable Insights for Fans
To stay on top of the tournament, you should check the IIHF official rankings later tonight after the Finland game. If the U.S. wins, they’ll likely face the fourth-place team from the opposite group in the quarterfinals, which usually sets up a much more favorable path to the finals. You can catch the live stream or highlights on the USA Hockey official Insider blog if you miss the afternoon puck drop.