Ben Kevan was the hero, scoring his second of the tournament on a hard snap shot from the slot in overtime to give the United States a 4-3 win over Slovakia and the bronze medal at the 2025 IIHF World Men’s Under-18 Championship.
Kevan picked up a loose puck and snapped it far side, past Slovakian goaltender Michal Pradel, who was fantastic in the game with 29 saves. The win gives the United States its fourth-consecutive medal at U18s.
"It’s pretty big, especially being in an international tournament like this with all the stakes," said Kevan of his goal. "It’s pretty big and I’m just excited with how it panned out. It wasn’t the medal we were wanting but podium in this tournament is unbelievable."
The result is more heartbreak for Slovakia, which has now lost in the bronze medal game three-straight years at the U18s and hasn’t won a medal at the tournament since silver in 2003. Head coach Martin Dendis was emotional following the loss but told his players that they should feel a lot of pride with the tournament they had.
"I just told them I’m proud of you guys and I’m thankful of what they did for this team," said Dendis. "And that everybody in our country is proud of them. The loss hurts because we have been so close to win a medal but, end of the day, we gave it our best effort."
Said Michal Svrcek: "We went for the medal and it didn’t happen, so it hurts. Obviously, the tournament was pretty good for Slovakia and we are proud of each other. The medal is not there and that hurts."
The Americans had the best chances in the extra frame. Cullen Potter had an incredible look 15 seconds into overtime but couldn’t pull the trigger after a gorgeous toe drag around a Slovakian player. Jacob Kvasnicka then had a breakaway and ripped a shot off the post.
Team USA goaltender Patrick Quinlan made a huge save as well, as he stopped Adam Kalman with 5:30 left in OT on a Slovak 2-on-1, setting the stage for Kevan’s heroics.
Cole McKinney gave the Americans a 3-2 lead with just over seven minutes left in the third, when he passed the puck to Will Moore downlow, then received a return pass and sent a wicked snap shot through a screen and off the post and in, beating Pradel.
The Slovaks refused to go away easily, though, and needed just 39 seconds to once again tie the game at 3-3.
Forward Matus Lisy drove the puck wide, made a nice pass to Jan Chovan, who was on his off wing and shot the puck over Quinlan.
Team USA led 1-0 after the first, while the Slovaks held a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes. The Americans held a 31-25 shot advantage through regulation.
The United States tied the game 2-2 just 1:13 into the third when Kvasnicka redirected a pass from Moore, who made a great play from the corner.
Following a tough slog in the first period, Slovakia’s players found their legs in the second and were awarded with the first powerplay of the game. But Quinlan held his ground and didn’t allow the Slovaks to tie the game with the man advantage, but the powerplay seemed to give the Slovaks some momentum.
With under five minutes to play, the Slovaks won a faceoff and captain Luka Radivojevic grabbed the loose puck. He skated it in along the left wall and then passed to Chovan, who curled down low and then found Michal Svrcek in the slot. Svrcek wasted little time before snapping the puck far corner past Quinlan.
Then, with 2:31 left, the Slovaks took a 2-1 lead on Svrcek’s second of the game. On another faceoff win, this to the left of Quinlan, Timothy Kazda dropped the puck to Svrcek, who ripped it short side. Chovan assisted on the goal and had three points in the game.
Team USA head coach Greg Moore being down 2-1 seemed to spark his team.
"The first period, much like the Sweden game, seemed like both teams were feeling each other out," he said. "No one really came out guns blazing. Once we got down and they scored the second goal against us, that was an emotional swing for our team. It was like ‘OK, we’ve gotta wake up here’. I thought our process and game play and desperation kicked in a lot more. We started to take over in more spots."
Slovakia outshot Team USA 12-6 in the second.
Both teams exchanged chances in the first, although the Americans had a few more and won the battle on the shot clock 14-8. Tomas Chrenko had Slovakia’s best look on a sizzling one-timer, but Quinlan turned that away.
Moments later, Will Horcoff blasted a slapshot from the point and that was stopped by Pradel.
The lone goal of the opening frame came from American defenceman Blake Fiddler, whose seeing-eye shot fooled Pradal and slid through the goalie’s five-hole. It was Fiddler’s second goal of the tournament and likely one that Pradal wanted back.
Despite the disappointment, Slovakia continues to trend up at the U18s and will play host to the tournament in 2026. Maybe playing on home soil will put the Slovaks onto the podium.
Kevan picked up a loose puck and snapped it far side, past Slovakian goaltender Michal Pradel, who was fantastic in the game with 29 saves. The win gives the United States its fourth-consecutive medal at U18s.
"It’s pretty big, especially being in an international tournament like this with all the stakes," said Kevan of his goal. "It’s pretty big and I’m just excited with how it panned out. It wasn’t the medal we were wanting but podium in this tournament is unbelievable."
The result is more heartbreak for Slovakia, which has now lost in the bronze medal game three-straight years at the U18s and hasn’t won a medal at the tournament since silver in 2003. Head coach Martin Dendis was emotional following the loss but told his players that they should feel a lot of pride with the tournament they had.
"I just told them I’m proud of you guys and I’m thankful of what they did for this team," said Dendis. "And that everybody in our country is proud of them. The loss hurts because we have been so close to win a medal but, end of the day, we gave it our best effort."
Said Michal Svrcek: "We went for the medal and it didn’t happen, so it hurts. Obviously, the tournament was pretty good for Slovakia and we are proud of each other. The medal is not there and that hurts."
The Americans had the best chances in the extra frame. Cullen Potter had an incredible look 15 seconds into overtime but couldn’t pull the trigger after a gorgeous toe drag around a Slovakian player. Jacob Kvasnicka then had a breakaway and ripped a shot off the post.
Team USA goaltender Patrick Quinlan made a huge save as well, as he stopped Adam Kalman with 5:30 left in OT on a Slovak 2-on-1, setting the stage for Kevan’s heroics.
Cole McKinney gave the Americans a 3-2 lead with just over seven minutes left in the third, when he passed the puck to Will Moore downlow, then received a return pass and sent a wicked snap shot through a screen and off the post and in, beating Pradel.
The Slovaks refused to go away easily, though, and needed just 39 seconds to once again tie the game at 3-3.
Forward Matus Lisy drove the puck wide, made a nice pass to Jan Chovan, who was on his off wing and shot the puck over Quinlan.
Team USA led 1-0 after the first, while the Slovaks held a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes. The Americans held a 31-25 shot advantage through regulation.
The United States tied the game 2-2 just 1:13 into the third when Kvasnicka redirected a pass from Moore, who made a great play from the corner.
Following a tough slog in the first period, Slovakia’s players found their legs in the second and were awarded with the first powerplay of the game. But Quinlan held his ground and didn’t allow the Slovaks to tie the game with the man advantage, but the powerplay seemed to give the Slovaks some momentum.
With under five minutes to play, the Slovaks won a faceoff and captain Luka Radivojevic grabbed the loose puck. He skated it in along the left wall and then passed to Chovan, who curled down low and then found Michal Svrcek in the slot. Svrcek wasted little time before snapping the puck far corner past Quinlan.
Then, with 2:31 left, the Slovaks took a 2-1 lead on Svrcek’s second of the game. On another faceoff win, this to the left of Quinlan, Timothy Kazda dropped the puck to Svrcek, who ripped it short side. Chovan assisted on the goal and had three points in the game.
Team USA head coach Greg Moore being down 2-1 seemed to spark his team.
"The first period, much like the Sweden game, seemed like both teams were feeling each other out," he said. "No one really came out guns blazing. Once we got down and they scored the second goal against us, that was an emotional swing for our team. It was like ‘OK, we’ve gotta wake up here’. I thought our process and game play and desperation kicked in a lot more. We started to take over in more spots."
Slovakia outshot Team USA 12-6 in the second.
Both teams exchanged chances in the first, although the Americans had a few more and won the battle on the shot clock 14-8. Tomas Chrenko had Slovakia’s best look on a sizzling one-timer, but Quinlan turned that away.
Moments later, Will Horcoff blasted a slapshot from the point and that was stopped by Pradel.
The lone goal of the opening frame came from American defenceman Blake Fiddler, whose seeing-eye shot fooled Pradal and slid through the goalie’s five-hole. It was Fiddler’s second goal of the tournament and likely one that Pradal wanted back.
Despite the disappointment, Slovakia continues to trend up at the U18s and will play host to the tournament in 2026. Maybe playing on home soil will put the Slovaks onto the podium.
United States v. Slovakia - BMG - 2025 IIHF U18 Men's World Championship
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