United States ice hockey winger James van Riemsdyk has warned his teammates to "be ready" for the quarter-final clash against the Czech Republic later today.

The 24-year-old, whose side progressed through as second seeds after winning all three of their preliminary games, admitted that Team USA are always looking to improve.

"It's no lives remaining now, so you've got to be ready," Van Riemsdyk is quoted as saying by the Detroit Free Press. "You always look to defense to [see] what you can do better. I think we've been working hard and getting better every game, and guys know what is expected out of them.

"Guys have bought into playing hard both ways and we just have to make sure we are all on the same page as far as systems, defensively, and we'll be fine."

The match between the USA and the Czech Republic gets underway at 5pm.