Team USA’s new-look men’s curling team delivered a dramatic opening-day victory at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, defeating Czechia 8–7 on Wednesday thanks to a clutch final shot from skip Danny Casper.
With the match tied heading into the 10th end and the United States holding the hammer, Casper sealed the win in spectacular fashion. On his penultimate throw, Casper knocked Czechia’s shot stone out of the house to put pressure on the opposition. Czechia answered with a precise draw to the button, setting up a tense final delivery. Casper responded by threading his stone past two guards and into the house, nudging the Czech shot rock away while settling on the button to secure the single point and the victory.
The comeback win highlighted Team USA’s resilience. Trailing 5–4 after seven ends, the Americans produced a decisive eighth end, scoring three points to take a 7–5 lead with two ends remaining. Czechia answered in the ninth to tie the match at 7–7, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.
The victory marked a milestone moment for the American squad, as all four curlers are competing in their first Olympic Games. With the win, each member of the team earned their first Olympic victory.
The United States improves to 1–0 in round-robin play and will face Switzerland on Thursday at 8:05 a.m. ET. Czechia falls to 0–1 and will return to the ice Friday at 3:05 a.m. ET, also against Switzerland.
