U.S. Defeats Czechia 6-1, Progressing to Gold Medal Match

MILAN – Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.) achieved three goals and three assists, establishing a new Paralympic single-tournament record for goals (14) and points (24), as the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team triumphed over Czechia, 6-1, in the semifinals at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games held at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Friday. 

With this win, the U.S. progresses to the gold medal match for the fifth consecutive time at the Paralympic Winter Games and will compete against the victor of the second semifinal between Canada and China. The puck is scheduled to drop on Sunday (March 15) at 11:05 a.m. ET and will be broadcast live on NBC or available for streaming on Peacock. 

“I believed we had a very strong performance from beginning to end,” stated David Hoff (Bottineau, N.D.), head coach of the 2026 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team. “I appreciated how we adhered to our game plan, and I thought our team exhibited patience and determination, which positions us to compete in the game we all desire on Sunday.”

Czechia initiated the scoring 5:08 into the match when Michal Geier tapped in a loose rebound in the crease just eight seconds into a Czech power play. 

GAME PHOTOS

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Farmer netted the first of six unanswered goals for Team USA 10:26 into the opening period to equalize the score at 1-1. Farmer capitalized on a rebound from Travis Dodson’s (Deming, N.M.) initial shot. With this goal, Farmer set a new record for single-tournament goals and points. 

The U.S. increased its advantage in the second period, scoring two goals against Czech goaltender Patrik Sedlacek within 19 seconds to take a 3-1 lead heading into the final period. After a shot from Farmer missed the target, David Eustace(Stoneham, Mass.) backhanded the rebound into the net, deflecting the puck off Sedlacek’s glove for the second goal, before Eustace assisted Farmer with a cross-ice pass, allowing him to lift the puck high for the third goal of the match. 

Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.) initiated the scoring early in the third period, beating the goaltender with a low shot from the slot for the fourth goal of the game. 

Farmer completed his hat trick with 7:08 left in the third. With both teams playing four aside, Farmer received the puck near the blue line, maneuvered through the defense, and tapped in the goal around an outstretched goaltender. 

Team USA’s final goal came from a power-play score by Noah Grove (Frederick, Md.) with 6:11 remaining in the last period. Grove received the puck at the faceoff dot from Brody Roybal (Northlake, Ill.) and, going to his forehand, sent a shot right inside the post to secure a decisive 6-1 victory for the U.S. 

Griffin LaMarre (Haverhill, Mass.) made four saves in goal.

NOTES: The U.S. outshot Czechia, 41-5 … Team USA converted 1-3 on the power play, while Czechia was 1-1.

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