PARDUBICE, CZECH REPUBLIC -- After nearly 10 hours of flying and another hour-and-a-half of driving through the snowy roads of the Czech Republic, I finally arrived at my destination: the World U20 Championship (unofficially known as: The World Juniors).

I like to call it: the best little hockey tournament you'll ever see.

This year's tourney is being contested in the Czech towns of Pardubice (that Hasek fella comes from here) and Hradec Kralove, about 90 minutes east of Prague, depending on your ability to read Czech road signs and avoid patches of ice and snow on curvy one-lane roads.

Before I report the bad news surrounding Team USA and the good news of a fantastic tilt between two-time defending champion Czechs and Team Finland, I must mention two things that have nothing to do with ice hockey.

First, I can't help but find it strange to see an autographed glossy photo of actor Matt Damon in the hotel gym in Prague. I mean, Arnold Schwarzenegger, sure. That makes sense. Jean-Claude Van Damme? Maybe. But Matt Damon? Hey, he was great in Good Will Hunting (saw it on the plane), but he really doesn't get anyone jacked to work out?

Second, and believe me, much more interestingly, I found Donald Trump's next wife. She's currently processing media passes in a small room adjacent to the arena in Pardubice (Did I tell you Hasek played here?). Tall and stunning like a 20-year-old Carol Alt. Not that there's anything wrong with today's Ms. Alt, right Alexei?

Believe me, though, this future supermodel really isn't what you expect to see when you walk into a tiny media room at an amateur hockey tournament. I have no idea why she'd be locked away in this small room, taking pictures of media members. Heck, we all want a picture of her!

Okay -- that aside, my arrival coincided with the departure (at least from the medal round) of Team USA. The American squad, which was 2-0-2 in the opening round robin and the only club without a loss entering quarterfinal play, froze up in a chilly Zimni Stadion (Hradec Kralove) with a 6-1 New Year's Day loss to Team Russia.

The Americans played a sloppy, undisciplined game. And they paid for it.

The Russians, led by Kings' 2000 first-rounder Alexander Frolov (1-1-2) and Ducks' 2001 top pick Stanislav Tchistov (1-2-3), scored four power-play goals en route to the easy win.

Team USA F Ben Eaves, who scored the Americans' lone goal, stated the painfully obvious after the game. "Of course we wanted to win," said Eaves, a Penguins prospect currently skating at Boston College, "but the rival was better in all aspects of the game."

Fortunately, I was smart enough to let Flames GM Craig Button to talk me into taking the 20-minute drive from Hradec Kralove back to Pardubice for the Czech-Finland game. It was well worth it. The rematch of last year's final lived up to expectations. In the end, the Finns gained a measure of revenge, edging the home team, 3-1, in front of an enthusiastic home crowd urged on by a line of football-style cheerleaders in the crowd.

Undrafted Finn Jarkko Immonen scored the eventual game-winner late in the second period. His seemingly harmless shot deflected off the skate of Czech D Lukas Krajicek (a Panthers' first-round pick in 2001) and past G Lukas Hronek.

At the other end of the rink, Finn stopper Kari Lehtonen held off the hard-charging Czechs in the final period -- making several key saves -- to preserve the win. Flames prospect Tomi Maki iced the victory by depositing one game puck into an empty Czech net with just seconds remaining on the clock.

Both Lehtinen and D Joni Pitkanen impressed scouts with strong performances in this high-pressure tilt. You can expect both to be top-10 picks in the upcoming draft, much like current Finnish teammates Mikko Koivu (Minnesota, No. 6) and Tuomo Ruutu (Chicago, No. 9) were in the last draft.

For their efforts, the Finns will meet the Russians in one semifinal match; while Team Canada faces upstart Switzerland, who advanced to the semis with a shootout win over Slovakia.

Meanwhile, the U.S, Czech Republic, Sweden and Slovakia will play in the relegation round to determine 5th through 8th place. France and Belarus, eliminated in the round robin, will play for the 9th and 10th spots.

As for me, I'll be back on the road, making another drive from Prague to Pardubice (Hasek's hometown, did I tell you?). These games -- and that Carol Alt-alike in the media room -- make it worth the trip.

E.J. Hradek writes puck for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at ej.hradek@espnmag.com.