On January 31, 2024, Team USA beat Czechia 4-0 to win gold at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, South Korea. The roster of 15- and 16-year-olds put up a brave fight against a strong Czech team to emerge on top, earning the US Youth Olympic Men’s Team its second gold ever at the Winter Youth Olympics. The first was in 2016 in Norway.

In the final game, Mikey Berchild gave Team USA the lead 8 minutes into the game and JP Hulbert scored the second goal in the second period. In the final period, Berchild scored his second goal while Zane Torre added the final tally on a power play with less than three minutes on the clock, completing the shut-out of the Czechs. Overall, Team USA finished the tournament with a 3-0-1-0 record.

Head coach Joe Bonnett expressed his pride in his team, commending them for accomplishing what they did. He further stated that the win was an indication of the country’s bright future in Hockey.

The men’s team’s victory came hot on the heels of the women’s under 18 victory at the 2024 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship in Zug, Switzerland. The team beat Czechia 5-1 in the final on January 14, ending the tournament with an impressive 6-0-0-0 record and winning their ninth gold medal at the tournament.