Czech U17 & U18 teams face challenges at home in August tourneys

For those looking to pursue a career in hockey, there is no off-season, and by August things are already in full swing. This month, two age categories are staging international tournaments in the Czech Republic, U17 and U18. Starting August 7, the U17s are hosting a five-team tournament in North Bohemia. The following week, the U18s take centre stage in southeast Moravia. The Czech Republic has faced many challenges trying to rebuild a national youth program over the past few years and the coaches of both age groups, Jiří Veber and Luděk Bukač Jr, look ahead to the challenges they face this coming season.

U18 Coach Luděk Bukač Jr looks ahead to the challenges at the Ivan
Hlinka tournament and beyond. Photo: Tomáš Čekal. hc-kometa.cz.

The larger of the two events is the U18 tournament, the annual Ivan Hlinka Memorial, will, as usual, be co-hosted by Břeclav along with nearby Piešťany, Slovakia. Despite underperforming regularly at this tournament, as well as at last year's U18 World Championship in Brno, Znojmo and Břeclav, Bukač brings with him a large part of his U17 team that finished second place in Hradec Králové last February, although there are a few notable exceptions. Three players, Jakub Vrána, David Pastrňák and Martin Kohout, are missing due to injuries. Six other players, Patrik Zdráhal, Adam Zbořil, Dominik Kubalík, David Němeček, David Sysala and Jan Košťálek, are all going overseas to join CHL teams and declined invitations to play for the team.

The lack of dedication to the national team clearly frustrates Bukač. Comparing his situation to the Swedish team, he said, "Their coaches invited their players and all of them accepted. No one was missing. As coaches, our goal is to set up a strategy for our national program, starting at the U16 level, and have the rules respected. We want our players to respect the program.

"The Hlinka Memorial Tournament is difficult, but I believe that we have a very good team," he continued. "As far as conditioning goes, we are ready. It is true that we're missing some forwards who scored a lot of goals for us in the past, but we have to compensate in other areas."

Last year's Czech team at the Hlinka tournament was Jiří Veber, now heads up the U17 team, which will host the USA, Germany, Slovakia and Switzerland in four towns in North Bohemia, with Chomutov serving as the main venue. Veber takes over a squad that was headed last season by Robert Reichel and started well, but had trouble in its last few tournaments.

"I don't know what the reason was; if it was injuries, goaltending, but I'm not looking back. I'm thinking about right now," he said. "We are starting from scratch. We looked at the players in camp, and now we're concentrating on this tournament. We are consistent, and we require certain things. We firmly believe that it will work. Although, it depends on how we respond in the games, of course."

Czech roster and schedule for the U17 tournament:

Goaltenders:
Karel Vejmelka (Třebíč), David Pírs (Sparta Praha), Aleš Sova (Č. Budějovice).

Defencemen:
Filip Pyrochta (Liberec), Jakub Zbořil (Kometa Brno), Tomáš Havlín (Liberec), Lukáš Vopelka (Örebrö, Sweden), Dominik Mašín (Slavia Praha), Filip Moravec (Litvínov), Robert Horák (Olomouc), Jan Ščotka (Vsetín).

Forwards:
Pavel Jenyš (Kometa Brno), Samuel Ollender, Dominik Kafka (both Vítkovice), Josef Stříbrný (Litvínov), Pavel Zacha (both Liberec), Martin Beneš, Václav Krliš (both Plzeň), Tomáš Andres (Slavia Praha), Michal Kovařčík (Třinec), Petr Macháček, Martin Strunz (both Chomutov), Radek Pilař (Hradec Králové).

Team Manager: Milan Hnilička
Head Coach: Jiří Veber
Assistant Coach: Petr Svoboda
Goaltending Coach: Michal Podolka
Team Doctor: Dr. Tomáš Madrý
Treasurer: Maroš Solenský

Tuesday, August 7:
18:00 Slovakia - Switzerland (Chomutov)
18:00 Czech Republic - Germany (Kadaň)

Wednesday, August 8:
18:00 USA - Germany (Chomutov)
18:00 Czech Republic - Slovakia (Klášterec n. O.)

Thursday, August 9:
18:00 Switzerland - USA (Chomutov)
18:00 Germany - Slovakia (Kadaň)

Friday, August 10:
16:30 Germany - Switzerland (Klášterec n. O.)
18:00 Czech Republic - USA (Chomutov)

Saturday, August 11:
12:00 Slovakia - USA (Chomutov)
15:30 Czech Republic - Switzerland (Chomutov)

Czech roster and schedule for the U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament:

Goaltenders:
Štěpán Lukeš (Chomutov), René Svoboda (Vítkovice).

Defencemen:Tomáš Andrlík (Plzeň), Martin Kokeš (Litvínov), Roman Čermák (Jihlava), Ondřej Šafář (K. Vary), Jan Štencl (Vítkovice), Tomáš Dvořák (H. Brod), Michal Beránek (Liberec), Alex Pisárik (Třinec).

Forwards:Jiří Kepka, Roman Přikryl, Miroslav Indrák (all Plzeň), Dominik Pokorný (Sparta Praha), Petr Česlík (Vítkovice), Václav Pašek, Luboš Rob (both Č. Budějovice), Ondřej Kaše, David Kampf (both Chomutov), Martin Slánský (Kladno), Ondřej Kovářů (Lukko Rauma, Finland), Jan Mandát (Jihlava), Dan Nádrazský (Davos, Switzerland).

Reserves:
Jakub Kalfiřt (Liberec), Adam Škutchan (Vítkovice), Jan Litera (Letňany).

Team Manager: Otakar Černý
Head Coach: Luděk Bukač Jr.
Assistant Coach: David Bruk
Goaltending Coach: Radek Toth
Team Doctor: Dr. Milan Novotný
Treasurer: Zdeněk Vojtěchovský

Group in Břeclav: Czech Republic, USA, Russia, Finland
Group in Piešťany: Slovakia, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland

Monday, August 13:
14:00 Switzerland - Canada (Piešťany)
15:30 USA - Russia (Břeclav)
17:30 Slovakia - Sweden (Piešťany)
19:00 Czech Republic - Finland  (Břeclav)

Tuesday, August 14:
14:00 Canada - Sweden (Piešťany)
15:30 Russia - Finland (Břeclav)
17:30 Slovakia - Switzerland (Piešťany)
19:00 Czech Republic - USA (Břeclav)

Wednesday, August 15:
14:00 Sweden - Switzerland (Piešťany)
15:30 Finland - USA (Břeclav)
17:30 Slovakia - Canada (Piešťany)
19:00 Czech Republic - Russia (Břeclav)

Friday August 17:
14:00 Placement game (Piešťany)
15:30 Placement game (Břeclav)
17:30 Semifinal (Piešťany)
19:00 Semifinal (Břeclav)

Saturday, August 18:14:00 Final or 3rd place game (Piešťany)
17:00 Final or 3rd place game (Břeclav)

Quotations, rosters and schedules courtesy of hokej.cz.

U17: Finns edge Czechs in OT in Hradec Králové

Goalmouth action in Hradec Králové. Photo: Stanislav Souček, hockeynews.cz.

On Thursday night at ČEZ Stadion in Hradec Králové, Finland got a goal from Joonas Lyytinen after only 17 seconds of overtime to beat the Czech Republic 4-3 at the U17 Four Nations Tournament. The Czechs got goals from Adam Zbořil, David Pastrňák and Petr Vrána and René Svoboda made 25 saves in goal. Click here for a detailed recap of the game.

After one day of action, Sweden leads with three points, followed by Finland with two, the Czechs with one, and Russia is pointless. That's because earlier in the day, Sweden benefitted from three power-play goals in the second period to beat Russia 4-3. Click here for a detailed recap of the game.

On Saturday, Finland plays Russia at 15:00 CET, followed by the Czech Republic against Sweden at 18:30. For the full tournament schedule, team rosters, game photos, summaries and interviews in Czech and English, visit hockeynews.cz.

Czech youth national teams gear up

Another international break is upon us in European hockey and national teams in a variety of age categories have assembled for various tune-up tournaments. Of course, the highest profile event is the Euro Hockey Tour, in which the Czech national men's team is competing, but the Czech Republic has has U19, U18, U17 and U16 teams in competitions throughout the continent.

Pardubice's Marek Langhamer will be in Finland, trying
to earn a spot in the U18 Worlds in Brno. m.denik.cz.

The U19 team is at a five-team event in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland. The tournament runs from February 8 to 12 and also includes Sweden, Finland, Switzerland and Germany. The U19 age category does not have a championship, but these teams are assembled for the purpose of getting players ready to compete for roster spots at next year's World Junior Championship, which will be held in Ufa, Russia.

Six players were part of the U18 team that finished eighth at last year's World Championship in Dresden, Germany. They include defencemen, Tomáš Kvapil, who plays in Lulea, Sweden and the Slavia Praha duo of Štěpán Jeník and Antonín Růžička, as well as forwards  Tomáš Rousek and Michal Švihálek, both of České Budějovice, and Petr Koblasa of Karlovy Vary. Rousek and Švihálek were both on the initial 40-man roster for this year's U20 team, but didn't go any farther. Of course, the most notable U19 Czech players in Europe are Tomáš Hertl and Dmitrij Jaškin of Slavia, but they are both being rested.

The U18 tournament will probably get the most attention of the junior categories because the World Championships, which will be played in Brno and Znojmo, are coming up in April. Players in that tournament in Pori, Finland will be trying to earn spots on their respective rosters for that tournament, which will be augmented by North American juniors whose teams have been eliminated from the playoffs.

The Czech roster at this event will feature many of the same names that were at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament in August, such as goaltender Marek Langhamer, defenceman Ronald Knot, and forwards Jan Hudeček, Ondřej Slováček, Martin Matejček, Pavel Sedláček, Eustathio Soumelidis and Matěj Zadražil.

In addition to the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Sweden, the USA will also be there, sending their National Development U18 team that will be a near rendition of the team they will send to Brno. Last year, this particular event was held in Hradec Králové, where the USA were a perfect 4-0, clinching first place with a victory over Finland on the final day. The Czechs finished fourth with a victory over Russia in the last game.

After hosting the U18s last year, Hradec Králové will host a U17 event this year, which will feature teams from the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Sweden from Thursday to Saturday. Like the U19 level, there is no World Championship for the U17 age group, so this tournament is mostly about working toward next year's championship. As Czech coach Luděk Bukač Jr stated, "The goal is clear and it is the U18 World Championship for next season. We are already working with this team for the second year and everything we do is just for one tournament per year. There, players must "sell" themselves to us and capitalize on what they have learned over two years. We must give them a chance to gain experience in international hockey and then hope for success in the championship."

Of the calibre of hockey that fans in Hradec Králové can expect to see in the tournament, Budač said, "Youth hockey at this level provides a better spectacle than the NHL; fans will definitely not regret coming to watch this tournament."

However, for those unable to attend games in Hradec Králové, the events of the tournament can be followed on the tournament website at hockeynews.cz/en/index.php.

As Budač stated, he is now in his second year working with his team. The U16 age group is also together, and are attending a four-team tournament in Sundsvall, Sweden.

15 Czechs taken in CHL Import Draft

The Canadian Hockey League, which is the top tier of junior hockey in North America, held its annual Import Draft on Wednesday. Fifteen Czech players, more than from any other country, were selected.

The draft allows European junior-aged players to join teams in the CHL, which is divided into the Western Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The 60 total CHL teams, nine of which are based in the United States, are limited to two import players (non-North American) each.

Petr Šidlík (right) at the 2011 UI8 World Championships. Photo:
hockeyfans.ch.

The first Czech player chosen was defenceman Petr Šidlík of Dukla Jihlava of the Czech First League. He also played for the Czech U18 team at the Five Nations Tournament in Hradec Kralove and the World Championships in Dresden last year. He was taken fifth overall by the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, who then traded his rights to the Victoriaville Tigre. 

Then a trio, Tomáš Hyka, Dominik Volek, and Patrik Machač were taken eighth, ninth, and tenth. Hyka, from Mladá Boleslav, was expected to be taken in the recent NHL Draft, but was passed on. Lukáš Sedlák, who was chosen 14th, is the only Czech player who has already been drafted by an NHL team. Sedlák was taken in the sixth round this year by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
 
Most of the players selected played on either the Czech U18 or U17 national teams last season. Inevitably, some of the players drafted will choose to leave the Czech Republic and play for the CHL team that picked them. If they leave, it weakens the talent pool that the Czech national teams have to choose from.

"We would obviously like to see the players stay, but it is not easy to convince them. Likewise, their parents or agents," Czech U18 national team coach Jiří Veber told hokej.cz's Václav Jáchim. "Our desire is the opposite, but some departures are inevitable. We're stuck with it," he says.

Convincing its top young players to remain at home is an ever-increasing challenge in the Czech Republic.
 
Here are the 15 Czech players chosen:

 5. Petr Šidlík        D    Victoriaville Jihlava
 8. Tomáš Hyka         RW   Gatineau      Ml. Boleslav
 9. Dominik Volek      LW   Regina        Sparta Praha
10. Patrik Machač      C    Brampton      Kladno
14. Lukáš Sedlák       C    Chicoutimi    Č. Budějovice
22. Radek Faksa        C    Kitchener     Třinec
26. Tomáš Pavelka      D    PEI           Vítkovice
29. Roman Will         G    Moncton       Ml. Boleslav
35. Matěj Beran        C    PEI           Lulea (SWE)
36. Lukáš Králík       F    Victoria      Olomouc
48. Michal Plutnar     D    Tri-City      Liberec
52. Jaroslav Pavelka   G    Niagara       Hradec Králové
54. Adam Řehák         C    Medicine Hat  Vítkovice
57. Jiří Sekáč         L/C  Sudbury       Youngstown (USHL)
59. Patrik Bartošák    G    Red Deer      Vítkovice

Draft Picks by Country:

Czech Republic – 15
Russia – 11
Sweden – 9
Slovakia – 7
Germany – 5
Switzerland – 5
Norway – 4
Latvia – 3
Finland – 2
Belarus – 1

Russia wins EYOWF gold in Liberec

Russia won the gold medal in ice hockey at the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in Liberec on Friday, defeating Finland in the final game in overtime.

The six-team under-17 tournament, which featured players that will be eligible for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, was part of a week-long festival of youth sports, in which athletes from around Europe competed in various sports. The fans who entered Liberec's Tipsport Arena to watch the hockey final were treated to a dramatic finish.

Action from the European Youth Olympic gold medal game
between Russia and Finland. Photo: eyowf2011.cz.

After a scoreless first period, Russia's Vadim Khlopotov and Finland's Mikko Tauriainen traded second period markers, and the teams were once again scoreless in the third. At 3:21 of overtime, Viacheslav Osnovin was the hero for Russia, as he scored the winning goal. Mikhail Grigorenko had an assist for Russia, and he was the tournament's overall leading scorer with 5 points (2 goals and 3 assists) in 3 games.

In Thursday night's bronze medal game, Switzerland defeated the host Czech team 5-1, led by 2 goals from left-winger Nico Dünner. The Czech goal was scored by Patrik Machač, who led the team overall with 2 goals and 2 assists in 4 games.

On Thursday afternoon, Latvia defeated Slovakia 4-3 to finish fifth.

Czech U17s will play for bronze at European Youth Olympics

At the 2011 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in Liberec, the Czech U17 national hockey team has split the two games in its three-team group to finish second, and will play for the bronze medal on Thursday.

Matěj Psota (left) tries to get away from Slovak defenceman Juraj
Kuricko in EYOWF action on Tuesday. Photo: eyowf2011.cz.

In the team's first game, it beat Slovakia 4-2 on Tuesday. They were led by 2 goals and an assist from Matěj Psota, who has 39 points in 32 games this season for the Liberec starší dorost (U18--the North American equivalent would be Midget) team. They also got a goal and an assist from Patrik Machač, who has 41 points in 27 games for Kladno starší dorost. On Wednesday, Finland beat the Czech Republic 4-1 to win the group, knocking the Czechs into second. Marek Langhammer was in goal for each game, stopping 28 shots against Slovakia and 22 against Finland. Langhammer has split time this season between Pardubice's starší dorost and junior teams, and has also played a couple of games with HC Chrudim of the First League.

On Thursday, Slovakia and Latvia will play for fifth place at 15:00 Central European Time (UTC +1), followed by the Czech Republic against Switzerland for the bronze medal at 19:00.

On Friday, Finland will take on Russia for the gold medal, beginning at 12:00.

3 Czech teams finish tournaments on Sunday

For the second time in three Euro Hockey Tour events this season, the Czech Republic has finished 0-3 and sit in last place in the tour's standings with 5 points, with a record of 1-1-0-6 on the 3-2-1-0 points scale. After dropping the opener against Sweden on Thursday night, they then lost 3-2 to Finland and 4-2 to Russia on Saturday and Sunday.

Although they dropped their first three games at the tournament in Hradec Králové they were hosting, the Czech U18 team made up for it in their fourth and final game against Russia with a 4-3 victory.

Michal Švihálek (#20) scores one of is two goals Sunday.
Photo: Stanislav Souček, hockeynews.cz.

After Nikita Nesterov struck first for Russia, the Czechs scored three goals in a row, two from Michal Švihálek and one from Tomáš Kvapil to take a commanding 3-1 lead. The Russians battled back to tie the score before the end of the second, getting goals from Alexander Kadeykin and Vladimir Tkachev.

Early, in the third period, the Czechs found themselves with a five-on-three advantage, but failed to capitalize. Their best chance came when Petr Koblasa had a chance from point-blank range, but shot the puck directly into the chest of goaltender Oleg Dyatlov. However, halfway through the third period, Radek Faksa scored the winner, to the delight of the crowd.

The win means that the Czech Republic avoided the tournament basement with a 1-3 record, instead giving that honour to the Russians, who went 0-4. The USA won the tournament earlier in the day with a 7-4 win over Finland.

The Czech U16s also finished up against Russia on Sunday in Finland, and lost 6-2 to finish that four-team tournament with an 0-3 record.

On Saturday, the Czech U19s finished their tournament in Mannheim, Germany with a 2-2 record to finish third out of five teams. After winning their first two games against Finland and Germany, they lost to Sweden and Switzerland. They actually tied Switzerland in points with six, but lost the tie-breaker due to the head-to-head result.

After finishing a tournament in Russia on Thursday, the Czech U17 team is now set to compete in the World Youth Winter Olympic Festival in Liberec, and plays its first game against Slovakia on Tuesday at 18:00 CET (UTC +1). They then play Finland on Wednesday to conclude the three-team group stage. Semifinals and finals go Thursday and Friday. All hockey games in the competition are being played at Tipsport Arena.

Swedes thump Czechs in Stockholm

Photo: hokej.cz.

The Czech national men's team was hoping that a good start at the LG Games against the host team would give them a chance to climb up in the Euro Hockey Tour standings, but the opposite happened. Niklas Persson gave Sweden the early lead, but Petr Průcha tied it up three minutes later. However, the Swedes regained the lead late in the opening period and they never looked back, cruising to an easy 6-1 victory. Magnus Johansson and P.J. Axelsson each had 3 points for Sweden.

Coach Alois Hadamczik was thoroughly unimpressed with his team's performance and had a locked-door meeting with the team afterward. When asked what he told them, he responded, "What they already know well. With a defence and system organized this way, we cannot succeed."  He later added, "Against Finland (on Saturday), we have to show a completely different performance, otherwise we have no chance."
In the day's other game, Russia hosted Finland in Mitishi and won 5-3. The rest of the tournament will be played in Stockholm on Saturday and Sunday.

Adam Řehák. Photo: mojekarty.shop5.cz.

In Mannheim, Germany, Sweden scored 4 times in the first period and led 6-1 early in the third before the Czech U19 team came roaring back only to fall short, 6-5. With the loss, the Czech team's record falls to 2-1. The Swedes were actually leading 5-0 in the dying minutes of the second period, when Adam Řehák finally got the Czechs on the board. The situation for the Czechs seemed hopeless, trailing by 5 as the midway point of the third period approached, but they then exploded for 4 goals in under six minutes. Daniel Přibyl, Řehák, Jiří Půhoný, and Petr Holík made it close, but they couldn't score another in the game's final five minutes. Řehák now has 3 goals in 3 games, leading the team. He has 50 points in 44 games for Vítkovice in the Junior Extraliga this season.

The U17 tournament in Moscow concluded on Thursday, with the Czech Republic falling 8-3 to Finland. Russia then beat Sweden 4-2 to win the tournament with 8 points. In second place with 5 points was Finland, followed by the Czechs with 3 and Sweden with 2. The next action for the Czech U17 team will be at the European Youth Winter Olympic Festival in Liberec; the hockey tournament begins Monday and concludes Saturday, February 18.

At the U18 Five Nations Cup in Hradec Králové and Nový Bydžov, the Czech Republic was idle, but the other four teams were in action. The United States beat Russia 10-4 in Hradec on the strength of a 5-goal second period. The US got 3 points each from Cole Bardeau, Reid Boucher, Rocco Grimaldi, and Ryan Haggerty. Grimaldi and Boucher now have 7 and 6 points, respectively, after 2 games. In its first game, Russia got a goal and an assist from Nikita Nesterov. In Nový Bydžov, Finland edged Sweden 3-2.

The rest of the tournament will be held at ČEZ Stadion in Hradec Králové. In Friday's early game, Russia takes on Sweden. The Czech U18 team returns to action Friday night against the USA. The game begins at 18:00 CET (UTC +1) and will be televised by ČT4 Sport. For American viewers, the game begins at noon ET, 9am PT, and can be seen online at www.ct24.cz/sport.

5 Nations Cup opens in Hradec Králové

The five-team international tune-up for the World U18 Championships began on Tuesday with a pair of games, one in Hradec Králové and one in Nový Bydžov.

Tomáš Hertl. Photo: mojekarty.shop5.cz.

 The host Czechs took on Finland at the tournament's main venue, Hradec Králové's ČEZ Stadion, and it was the visitors that struck twice early, Kalle Kossila and Miro Altonen. Late in the first, Tomáš Rousek got one back for the Czechs. Two more Finnish goals in the second by Markus Granlund and Heikki Liedes widened their lead to 4-1, and it stayed that way until the dying minutes of the game, when Tomáš Moravec scored with goaltender Jaroslav Pavelka on the bench to make it a 4-2 final. Tomáš Hertl assisted on both Czech goals. Altonen led Finland with a goal and an assist. Pavelka and Sasmu Pehronen each made 19 saves in goal for their respective teams.

Rocco Grimaldi. Photo: USHL images.

In Nový Bydžov, which is 30 kilometres west of Hradec, the United States spanked Sweden 6-2. The Americans were led by captain Rocco Grimaldi's 3 goals and 1 assist, 3 assists from Reid Boucher, and 2 assists from Robbie Russo. They also got single goals from Adam Reid, Blake Pietila, and J.T. Miller. Sweden got a goal and an assist from Jonas Brodin and a goal from Rotevall Boyce.

On Thursday, the Czechs are idle. Russia plays its first game of the tournament against the USA in Hradec Králové, while Sweden takes on Finland in Nový Bydžov.

Elsewhere, there was U17 action in Moscow. The Czech Republic fell to Sweden 4-3 in a shootout, followed by host Russia's 4-3 comeback victory over Finland. It was the second time in as many days the Czechs fell in a shootout, as they lost by a 3-2 score to Russia on Tuesday. Finland beat Sweden 5-4 in a shootout the same day. On Thursday, the tournament's final day, the Czechs play Finland and Russia plays Sweden. Russia leads with 5 points, followed by Sweden with 3, and Finland and the Czechs with 2 each.

In Mannheim, Germany, the Czech U19 team is 2-0. They opened on Tuesday with a 3-2 win over Finland, getting goals from Adam Řehák, Jaromír Kverka, and Tomáš Fořt. On Wednesday, they were led by 2 goals from Michal Vachovec in a 4-1 victory over the host Germans. Filip Pavlík and Jan Müller also scored for the Czechs.

Week of international hockey in Europe begins Tuesday

There are a few times each season when European leagues take a week off so that players are free to represent their countries at various international events. Tuesday is the beginning of one of those week-long periods.

A total of five Czech national teams will take part at various events in various countries, the most prominent being the men's national team, who will take part in the LG Hockey Games in Stockholm, Sweden. This is the third of four Euro Hockey Tour events of the season. Currently, the Czech Republic sits in fourth place of the four-team circuit with 5 points. Russia leads with 15, followed by Sweden with 9 and Finland with 7. The tour will conclude with the Czech Hockey Games in Brno, April 21 to 24.

Jakub Jeřábek (left) battles for position with Canada's Quinton
Howden at the 2011 World Junior Championships. Photo: Rick
Stewart, Getty Images North America.

A player of note who will make his debut for the Czech men's national team is defenceman Jakub Jeřábek of Plzeň 1929. Jeřábek was the captain and best player for the Czech U20 team at the recent World Junior Championships in Buffalo, NY, and he will now get a chance at the senior level.

"(Sunday) night, manager Martin Loukota called and told me the basic information. I was taken aback. The coaches told me before that I might go to the Swedish games as an alternate, but I wasn't counting on it," said Jeřábek, upon receiving the news. "It's not only a thrill for me but also for my whole family. My parents are happy. The weekend will be a very tight fit for TV. On the phone I got a lot of text messages from friends and acquaintances."

The 23-man roster includes 12 players in the KHL, 10 in the Czech Extraliga, and 1 from Swedish Elite League.

Goaltenders: Jakub Štěpánek (St. Petersburg, KHL), Alexandr Salák (Färjestad, Sweden).

Defencemen: Petr Čáslava (CSKA Moscow, KHL), Tomáš Mojžíš (Dynamo Minsk, KHL), Ondřej Němec (Cherepovets, KHL), Martin Škoula (Omsk, KHL), Lukáš Krajíček, Martin Lojek (both Oceláři Třinec), Jakub Nakládal (Eaton Pardubice), Jakub Jeřábek (Plzeň 1929).

Forwards: Roman Červenka, Petr Vampola (both Omsk, KHL), Jan Marek (Atlant Mytishchi, KHL), Tomáš Rolinek (Magnitogorsk, KHL), Lukáš Kašpar, Jiří Novotný (both Astana, KHL), Petr Průcha (St. Petersburg, KHL), Petr Koukal (Eaton Pardubice), Ivan Rachůnek (PSG Zlín), Milan Gulaš (Mountfield České Budějovice), David Květoň, Martin Adamský (both Oceláři Třinec), Peter Jánský (Benzina Litvínov).

Coaches: Alois Hadamczik, Josef Paleček.
General Manager: Slavomír Lener
Team Manager: Martin Loukota 
Physician: Dr. Zdeněk Ziegelbauer 
Physiotherapist: Petr Janků
Video Coach: Jan Procházka
Masseur: Petr Ondráček 
Custodian: Zdeněk Šmíd
Media Manager: Jan Černý

Five games will be played at the Globe in Stockholm, while one will be played in Mytischchi, Russia. The games in Stockholm can all be seen in the Czech Republic on ČT4 Sport. Elsewhere, they can be seen online at http://www.ct24.cz/sport/. Here is the tournament schedule (all times are Central European, UTC +1):

Thursday, February 10:
19:30 Czech Republic - Swedem (Stockholm, ČT4 Sport)
20:00 Russia - Finland (Mytishchi)

Saturday, Feburary 12:
12:00 Czech Republic - Finland (Stockholm, ČT4 Sport)
16:00 Sweden - Russia (Stockholm, ČT4 Sport)

Sunday, Feburary 13:
12:00 Czech Republic - Russia (Stockholm, ČT4 Sport)
16:00 Sweden - Finland (Stockholm, ČT4 Sport)

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic will send a U19 team to compete in a five-team tournament in Mannheim, Germany. This will be the first assembly of a team of Czech-based players who hope to compete at the 2012 World Junior Championships in Calgary and Edmonton, AB. The team is being coached by national U20 coach Miroslav Přerost and includes one returning player from last year's World Junior squad, forward Petr Holík of PSG Zlín, the leading junior-age scorer in the Extraliga. The team would also surely include Dmitrij Jaškin of Slavia Praha if he weren't already competing for the U18 team.


The tournament also includes Finland, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland. It will be played in a round-robin format which begins Tuesday and concludes Saturday.  


The aforementioned U18 team also plays in a five-team, round-robin tournament. This one runs Wednesday through Sunday and takes place at ČEZ Stadion in Hradec Králové. Two games will be held at the arena in Nový Bydžov. The Czech Republic will compete against Finland, the USA, Sweden, and Russia. Friday's game against the USA, which begins at 18:00 Central European Time (noon Eastern Time), will be televised by ČT4 Sport and will be available on the internet at http://www.ct24.cz/sport/. The rosters of all five teams will be likely similar to when they compete at the IIHF World U18 Championships in Crimmitschau and Dresden, Germany, April 14 to 24.


The U17 team will play in a four-team tournament in Moscow from Tuesday to Thursday. The same team will also compete in the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in Liberec, February 12 to 19. Finally, the U16 team will play three games in Vierumäki, Finland from Friday to Sunday.