HALIFAX, Nova Scotia – The United States’ hockey team moved into the semifinals and a Friday night (7:10) matchup with rival Canada in the World Junior Championships by beating the Czech Republic 4-3 Thursday.

The University of Maine’s Greg Moore didn’t register a point for the U.S. team and his Bear teammate, Jimmy Howard, again backed up Providence College goalie Bob Goepfert. Goepfert made 22 saves and the U.S. received goals from the University of North Dakota’s Zach Parise, the University of Michigan’s Dwight Helminen, Ohio State’s Ryan Kesler and the U.S. National Development Program’s Under-18 team’s Ryan Suter.

Kesler also had two assists as did Yale’s Chris Higgins.