U18 Men’s National Team Makes History, Captures First-Ever ISBHF World Championship
BANSKÁ BYSTRICA, Slovakia – USA Ball Hockey has another World Champion!
The United States U18 Men’s National Team etched its name into the history books by capturing the 2026 ISBHF U18 Men’s World Championship, defeating Czechia 4-3 in overtime to secure the first U18 Men’s World title in program history.
Held July 1–5 in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, the championship featured six of the world’s top ball hockey nations. The Americans opened tournament play with an impressive victory over host Slovakia before adding wins against Switzerland and Great Britain during preliminary play. After suffering their only loss of the tournament against Czechia, Team USA responded exactly as championship teams do.
The United States battled past longtime rival Canada in a thrilling 7-6 contest before defeating Slovakia 8-4 in the semifinals to earn another opportunity against Czechia with a World Championship on the line.
The gold medal game delivered everything fans could have hoped for. With the score tied 3-3 after regulation, the championship was decided in overtime. Team USA capitalized on its opportunity in the extra period, as Jon Trosky scored the golden goal to earn a dramatic 4-3 victory and bring home the nation’s first-ever ISBHF U18 Men’s World Championship.
The victory is another milestone for USA Ball Hockey and a testament to the continued growth of youth ball hockey across the United States. From local programs and regional competitions to national team development camps, the success of the U18 Men’s National Team reflects years of dedication from players, coaches, families, officials, and volunteers committed to growing the game. Special thanks to the trainers, media, equipment staff, and assistant coaches. The team was led by General Manager, Ryan Shannon and Head Coach, Eddie Costa. USA Ball Hockey is proud to share that every player on the roster participated in the Future Stars developmental program, and worked their way up to best in the world!
Final Tournament Standings
🥇 United States
🥈 Czechia
🥉 Slovakia
4th Canada
5th Great Britain
6th Switzerland
The championship also capped an extraordinary summer for USA Ball Hockey. Just one week after the Men’s and Women’s National Teams both captured gold medals at the 2026 ISBHF World Championships in Ostrava, the U18 Men’s National Team added a third world championship to the organization’s collection this year, and sixth overall gold medal in the last 5-years for USA Ball Hockey.
Three world championships in one summer represent an unprecedented achievement for USA Ball Hockey and further demonstrate the strength of the nation’s player development pathway. As the sport continues to expand across the country, the future of Team USA has never been brighter. Congratulations once again to our players, coaches, staff, officials, families, and supporters on an unforgettable accomplishment.
