The Czech Republic has filled the final vacancy on its World Championship roster.
Petr Vampola has been inserted, and will play in the quarterfinal against the United States on Wednesday. His presence will be necessary due to the absence of Martin Havlát, who injured his shoulder when he crashed heavily into the boards in the third period of the Czechs' victory over Germany on Monday.
Vampola gives the Czechs a full roster for the game, as the two players who missed Monday's game, Milan Michálek and Karel Rachůnek, will return. Also playing is forward Petr Průcha, who left during Monday's game as well.
Wednesday's game begins at 16:15 Central European Time (10:15 ET, 7:15am PT). I can be seen in the Czech Republic on ČT4 and in the United States on Versus. The winner will meet the winner of the Sweden-Germany quarterfinal on Friday.
The most comprehensive coverage of the Czech hockey scene in English
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Czechs win group, but still fuming
The Czech Republic kept its perfect record at the 2011 World Championship in tact on Sunday, defeating Russia 3-2. The win also clinched them first place in Group E. Based based on their post-game reaction, though, you wouldn't know it.
"I don't take any joy from this victory," said Jaromír Jágr after it was over.
What he and other Czech players are fuming about was the play of the Russians, in particular forward Yevgeni Artyukhin, who knocked Milan Michálek and Karel Rachůnek from the game with big hits.
The hit on Michálek came midway through the second period, following an exchange of hits between the two players, when Michálek didn't have the puck. Not expecting to be hit, Michálek did not brace himself, and was shaken up on the play. Artyukhin was assessed a minor penalty for interference.
The hit on Rachůnek came in the last minute of the middle frame, just as he was shooting the puck on goal. Artyukhin's check knocked Rachůnek's helmet off, and the later hit his head on the ice, which drew blood. Despite protests from the Czech bench, no penalty was assessed on the play, with the explanation that it was a shoulder check.
Coach Alois Hadamczik was perhaps the angriest of all, taking his anger out on the game's referees. "This would never happen in the (Czech) Extaliga. We were warned before the season that referees will have no tolerance for similar headshots and the fact is that Artyukhin threw three headshots." However, the IIHF disciplinary committee apparently disagrees with Hadamczik's assessment. It ruled on Monday that Artyukhin would receive no further disciplinary action.
The Czechs have already lost defenceman Radek Martínek for the duration of the tournament, but both Michálek and Rachůnek are expected to return to the Czech lineup.
"Michálek suffered a neck injury and he is under a physiotherapists’ care now. He looks quite good but we didn’t let him play out of precaution," Czech team doctor Radomír Holiba told eurohockey.com. "Rachůnek has three new stitches on his head but he also should be okay to play. We will discuss with the coach if they can play tomorrow against Germany, but for the quarterfinals they should be ready."
"It's hard to say. Some players do this, others do not," Jágr speculated, when asked if he thought it was the result of frustration on the part of the Russians. "Canadians would have done the same."
"I don't take any joy from this victory," said Jaromír Jágr after it was over.
What he and other Czech players are fuming about was the play of the Russians, in particular forward Yevgeni Artyukhin, who knocked Milan Michálek and Karel Rachůnek from the game with big hits.
The hit on Michálek came midway through the second period, following an exchange of hits between the two players, when Michálek didn't have the puck. Not expecting to be hit, Michálek did not brace himself, and was shaken up on the play. Artyukhin was assessed a minor penalty for interference.
The hit on Rachůnek came in the last minute of the middle frame, just as he was shooting the puck on goal. Artyukhin's check knocked Rachůnek's helmet off, and the later hit his head on the ice, which drew blood. Despite protests from the Czech bench, no penalty was assessed on the play, with the explanation that it was a shoulder check.
Coach Alois Hadamczik was perhaps the angriest of all, taking his anger out on the game's referees. "This would never happen in the (Czech) Extaliga. We were warned before the season that referees will have no tolerance for similar headshots and the fact is that Artyukhin threw three headshots." However, the IIHF disciplinary committee apparently disagrees with Hadamczik's assessment. It ruled on Monday that Artyukhin would receive no further disciplinary action.
The Czechs have already lost defenceman Radek Martínek for the duration of the tournament, but both Michálek and Rachůnek are expected to return to the Czech lineup.
"Michálek suffered a neck injury and he is under a physiotherapists’ care now. He looks quite good but we didn’t let him play out of precaution," Czech team doctor Radomír Holiba told eurohockey.com. "Rachůnek has three new stitches on his head but he also should be okay to play. We will discuss with the coach if they can play tomorrow against Germany, but for the quarterfinals they should be ready."
"It's hard to say. Some players do this, others do not," Jágr speculated, when asked if he thought it was the result of frustration on the part of the Russians. "Canadians would have done the same."
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Top 10 Czech-Russia hockey games of all time
On the heels of their victory over their friendly rivals from Slovakia on Friday night, the Czechs renew a rivalry on Sunday that has, historically, been anything but. There will surely be a lot of emotion on the ice when the Czech and Russian teams take the ice in Bratislava, but in the context of the tournament and history, this game is not really that important. The Czechs are already assured a spot in the quarterfinals and, while the Russians have struggled so far, they will probably be there in the end as well.
Teams that played under the banners of Bohemia and then Czechoslovakia became one of the best teams in Europe in the early twentieth century and by the late 1940s, were challenging Canada for international hockey supremacy. Around this time, the Soviet Union was starting to build a hockey program and called upon their Czechoslovak friends to teach them the game.
The Soviet Union made its debut at the World Championships in 1954 and promptly won the gold medal. From then on, games between the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia were often big games in the standings, but things were elevated to a whole new level in 1968, with the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia which effectively ended liberal reforms that had been initiated in that country. For the next 20 years, match-ups between the two teams were nearly wars on ice, coming to a head with an enormous on-ice brawl at the 1972 Izvestia Cup in Moscow.
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the collapse of the Communist Bloc in Europe, and the subsequent break-up of Czechoslovakia, the dynamics of the rivalry have changed, but to be sure it's still there. In that context, I have attempted to compile the ten greatest games in Czech-Russian hockey history. As the IIHF considers these countries to be the successors to Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union, I will treat them as the same entities.
Feel free to disagree with any of my choices.
10. Tampere 1965
The 1965 World Championship was the first time that the Soviets and Czechoslovaks won gold and silver at a tournament. It was the highest finish for the latter since 1949, after which their team was decimated by the arrest and incarceration of several of their best players. By the mid-sixties they were ready to challenge for gold again and met the Soviets in the second-to-last game, each having perfect 5-0 records. The Soviets won 3-1 and ultimately held on for the gold, while Czechoslovakia won its last game over Sweden and the silver.
9. Ljubljana 1966
The two teams took it a step closer the following year, meeting on the final day of the tournament with the gold medal at stake. Since the Czechoslovaks were a perfect 6-0 while the Soviets had tied a game, a tie would have given the gold to Czechoslovakia. However, the Soviets dominated, winning 7-1.
8. Montreal 1976
After trading Olympic gold and the World Championships in 1976, the bitter rivals took their show to North America in September, facing off at the historic Montreal Forum on September 3 as each team played its first game in the Canada Cup, the first tournament to allow the best players from the NHL and Europe to represent their respective national teams. Led by 2 goals and an assist from Milan Nový, the ČSSR won 5-3 in a tournament they ultimately lost in the finals.
7. Stockholm 1969
If it weren't for the political climate, these games wouldn't make the list. The Czechoslovaks defeated the Soviets by scores of 2-0 and 4-3. Though this was a tremendous accomplishment, as the Soviets were the six-time defending World Champions, the Czechoslovaks had beaten them before. However, in the aftermath of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968, these victories meant everything to the folk at home, and the team returned home to a hero's welcome, despite the fact that they were ultimately unable to dethrone the Soviets.
They were oh-so-close to doing so, however.
The 4-3 victory on March 28 gave meant that the ČSSR was in first place with 16 points, followed by the USSR and Sweden with 14 each. A tie in the final game against the host Swedes would have given them the gold medal, but they fell 1-0. The Soviets then beat Canada 4-2 to create a three-way tie. Based on goal difference, the Czechoslovaks ended up with the bronze medal. Had they won gold, Stockholm '69 might move up to first.
6. Cologne 2010
Still fresh in everybody's mind is the 2010 World Chamionship gold medal game in Cologne, Germany. The Czechs looked shaky in the early part of the tournament, but got to the final via shootout wins over Finland and Sweden. The heavily-favoured Russians were led by star Alexander Ovechkin and both teams were anxious to atone for disappointing showings in the Winter Olympics a few months earlier.
The Czechs got goals from Jakub Klepiš and Tomáš Rolinek and then rode the goaltending of Tomáš Vokoun, which was the reason they were in the final game. He turned away 35 of 36 shots, not getting beaten until the game's final minute by Pavel Datsyuk.
5. Prague 1978
In the history of the Czechoslovak-Soviet rivalry, it wasn't often the case that the Soviets were considered the underdog. But at the 1978 World Championship, that was the case. Czechoslovakia was now the two-time defending champion, and were playing on their home ice at Prague's Sportovní hala. They beat the Soviets in the round-robin stage by a 6-4 score and finished with a perfect 7-0 record, outscoring their opponents 44-15. The loss to the Czechoslovaks was the only blemish on the Soviets record, heading into the medal round.
The two teams met again on the last day of the tournament, May 14, with the gold medal on the line. The Czechs needed only a point to secure a third straight gold. It was the Soviets, however, who silenced the crowd with a hard-fought 3-1 victory to re-claim the gold medal. They wouldn't relinquish it again until the Czechs took it back, on home ice again, in 1985.
4. Sarajevo 1984
The Soviet team was a juggernaut in 1984, and hungry to recapture the Olympic gold that they surrendered to the USA in 1980. They met Czechoslovakia in the gold medal game.
The Soviets won the game 2-0, in what was legendary goaltender Vladislav Tretiak's final game. The Czechoslovaks played valiantly and had the support of most of the Yugoslav crowd, but couldn't score on a Soviet team playing at the top of its game.
3. Prague 1972
The Soviets entered the game with an unprecedented nine straight World Championships and were seemingly unbeatable. They'd also won the Winter Olympics a couple of months before the 1972 World Championships in Prague. For Czechoslovak fans, this was their first chance to see the rivalry up close, and they were treated to quite a historic victory.
The two teams met in the second-to-last game, tied at the top of the standings with 15 points each. The winner would clinch the gold, as the best the loser would be able to do is even the points again on the last day but lose the tie-breaker. A tie would mean both teams' fortunes would rest on the final day, but Czechoslovakia scored a dramatic 3-2 win to beat the hated Russians and win the gold in front of an ecstatic home crowd.
After the game, the crowd took to the streets and celebrated well into the night, and the players earned a place in history with the streak-breaking win.
2. Innsbruck 1976
1976 might have been the defining year in the history of Czechoslovak-Soviet hockey, and it began with a face-off for the gold medal on the final day of the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck.
Both teams entered the final game having won all of their games, but the Czechoslovaks forfeited their 7-1 victory over Poland due to a positive drug test from centre František Pošpisil.
That being the case, the Soviets had 2 more points and would win the gold if the game finished tied. A victory for either team would claim the gold medal. The Soviets were looking for their fourth-straight Olympic gold, while the Czechoslovaks were after their first ever.
The ČSSR went up 2-0 on goals by Milan Nový and Ivan Hlinka and had a glorious opportunity to extend their lead midway through the second period with a 5-on-3 power play. However, the Soviets killed it off and, with momentum on their side, tied the score late in the second. When Eduard Novák gave the Czechs the lead back with 8:58 to play, it looked like they might finally get that elusive Olympic gold. However, Alexander Yakushev tied it for the Soviets on a power play and then Valeri Kharlamov scored the tournament winner only 24 seconds later.
More on the game can be found at World Hockey.
1. Nagano 1998
Politics was not an issue when the Czech Republic and Russia took to the ice for the gold-medal final of the 1998 Winter Olympics, but it had historical significance nonetheless.
The Czech Republic and Russia met for the gold medal in the first Winter Olympic tournament to have unlimited access to NHL players. With both countries' best players now playing in the NHL, this was the first time in years that they had put their best lineups on the ice against each other. Having been denied by the USSR in the final games in 1976 and 1984, the Czechs were still searching for their first Olympic gold.
As usual, the Russians were favoured, with a high-powered offence led by Pavel Bure and Sergei Fedorov. The Czechs had Jaromír Jágr, but the key to their success in 1998 was defence, which began with goaltender Dominik Hašek. In the final game, Hašek stopped all 20 shots he faced, while the Czechs got their lone goal with less than 12 minutes to play on a slapper from the point from veteran defenceman Petr Svoboda.
The Czechs immediately flew back home to Prague to celebrate the victory at Staroměstské náměstí.
The Soviet Union made its debut at the World Championships in 1954 and promptly won the gold medal. From then on, games between the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia were often big games in the standings, but things were elevated to a whole new level in 1968, with the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia which effectively ended liberal reforms that had been initiated in that country. For the next 20 years, match-ups between the two teams were nearly wars on ice, coming to a head with an enormous on-ice brawl at the 1972 Izvestia Cup in Moscow.
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the collapse of the Communist Bloc in Europe, and the subsequent break-up of Czechoslovakia, the dynamics of the rivalry have changed, but to be sure it's still there. In that context, I have attempted to compile the ten greatest games in Czech-Russian hockey history. As the IIHF considers these countries to be the successors to Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union, I will treat them as the same entities.
Feel free to disagree with any of my choices.
10. Tampere 1965
The 1965 World Championship was the first time that the Soviets and Czechoslovaks won gold and silver at a tournament. It was the highest finish for the latter since 1949, after which their team was decimated by the arrest and incarceration of several of their best players. By the mid-sixties they were ready to challenge for gold again and met the Soviets in the second-to-last game, each having perfect 5-0 records. The Soviets won 3-1 and ultimately held on for the gold, while Czechoslovakia won its last game over Sweden and the silver.
9. Ljubljana 1966
The two teams took it a step closer the following year, meeting on the final day of the tournament with the gold medal at stake. Since the Czechoslovaks were a perfect 6-0 while the Soviets had tied a game, a tie would have given the gold to Czechoslovakia. However, the Soviets dominated, winning 7-1.
8. Montreal 1976
After trading Olympic gold and the World Championships in 1976, the bitter rivals took their show to North America in September, facing off at the historic Montreal Forum on September 3 as each team played its first game in the Canada Cup, the first tournament to allow the best players from the NHL and Europe to represent their respective national teams. Led by 2 goals and an assist from Milan Nový, the ČSSR won 5-3 in a tournament they ultimately lost in the finals.
7. Stockholm 1969
If it weren't for the political climate, these games wouldn't make the list. The Czechoslovaks defeated the Soviets by scores of 2-0 and 4-3. Though this was a tremendous accomplishment, as the Soviets were the six-time defending World Champions, the Czechoslovaks had beaten them before. However, in the aftermath of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968, these victories meant everything to the folk at home, and the team returned home to a hero's welcome, despite the fact that they were ultimately unable to dethrone the Soviets.
They were oh-so-close to doing so, however.
The 4-3 victory on March 28 gave meant that the ČSSR was in first place with 16 points, followed by the USSR and Sweden with 14 each. A tie in the final game against the host Swedes would have given them the gold medal, but they fell 1-0. The Soviets then beat Canada 4-2 to create a three-way tie. Based on goal difference, the Czechoslovaks ended up with the bronze medal. Had they won gold, Stockholm '69 might move up to first.
6. Cologne 2010
Still fresh in everybody's mind is the 2010 World Chamionship gold medal game in Cologne, Germany. The Czechs looked shaky in the early part of the tournament, but got to the final via shootout wins over Finland and Sweden. The heavily-favoured Russians were led by star Alexander Ovechkin and both teams were anxious to atone for disappointing showings in the Winter Olympics a few months earlier.
The Czechs got goals from Jakub Klepiš and Tomáš Rolinek and then rode the goaltending of Tomáš Vokoun, which was the reason they were in the final game. He turned away 35 of 36 shots, not getting beaten until the game's final minute by Pavel Datsyuk.
5. Prague 1978
In the history of the Czechoslovak-Soviet rivalry, it wasn't often the case that the Soviets were considered the underdog. But at the 1978 World Championship, that was the case. Czechoslovakia was now the two-time defending champion, and were playing on their home ice at Prague's Sportovní hala. They beat the Soviets in the round-robin stage by a 6-4 score and finished with a perfect 7-0 record, outscoring their opponents 44-15. The loss to the Czechoslovaks was the only blemish on the Soviets record, heading into the medal round.
The two teams met again on the last day of the tournament, May 14, with the gold medal on the line. The Czechs needed only a point to secure a third straight gold. It was the Soviets, however, who silenced the crowd with a hard-fought 3-1 victory to re-claim the gold medal. They wouldn't relinquish it again until the Czechs took it back, on home ice again, in 1985.
4. Sarajevo 1984
The Soviet team was a juggernaut in 1984, and hungry to recapture the Olympic gold that they surrendered to the USA in 1980. They met Czechoslovakia in the gold medal game.
The Soviets won the game 2-0, in what was legendary goaltender Vladislav Tretiak's final game. The Czechoslovaks played valiantly and had the support of most of the Yugoslav crowd, but couldn't score on a Soviet team playing at the top of its game.
3. Prague 1972
The Soviets entered the game with an unprecedented nine straight World Championships and were seemingly unbeatable. They'd also won the Winter Olympics a couple of months before the 1972 World Championships in Prague. For Czechoslovak fans, this was their first chance to see the rivalry up close, and they were treated to quite a historic victory.
The two teams met in the second-to-last game, tied at the top of the standings with 15 points each. The winner would clinch the gold, as the best the loser would be able to do is even the points again on the last day but lose the tie-breaker. A tie would mean both teams' fortunes would rest on the final day, but Czechoslovakia scored a dramatic 3-2 win to beat the hated Russians and win the gold in front of an ecstatic home crowd.
After the game, the crowd took to the streets and celebrated well into the night, and the players earned a place in history with the streak-breaking win.
2. Innsbruck 1976
1976 might have been the defining year in the history of Czechoslovak-Soviet hockey, and it began with a face-off for the gold medal on the final day of the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck.
Both teams entered the final game having won all of their games, but the Czechoslovaks forfeited their 7-1 victory over Poland due to a positive drug test from centre František Pošpisil.
That being the case, the Soviets had 2 more points and would win the gold if the game finished tied. A victory for either team would claim the gold medal. The Soviets were looking for their fourth-straight Olympic gold, while the Czechoslovaks were after their first ever.
The ČSSR went up 2-0 on goals by Milan Nový and Ivan Hlinka and had a glorious opportunity to extend their lead midway through the second period with a 5-on-3 power play. However, the Soviets killed it off and, with momentum on their side, tied the score late in the second. When Eduard Novák gave the Czechs the lead back with 8:58 to play, it looked like they might finally get that elusive Olympic gold. However, Alexander Yakushev tied it for the Soviets on a power play and then Valeri Kharlamov scored the tournament winner only 24 seconds later.
More on the game can be found at World Hockey.
1. Nagano 1998
Politics was not an issue when the Czech Republic and Russia took to the ice for the gold-medal final of the 1998 Winter Olympics, but it had historical significance nonetheless.
The Czech Republic and Russia met for the gold medal in the first Winter Olympic tournament to have unlimited access to NHL players. With both countries' best players now playing in the NHL, this was the first time in years that they had put their best lineups on the ice against each other. Having been denied by the USSR in the final games in 1976 and 1984, the Czechs were still searching for their first Olympic gold.
As usual, the Russians were favoured, with a high-powered offence led by Pavel Bure and Sergei Fedorov. The Czechs had Jaromír Jágr, but the key to their success in 1998 was defence, which began with goaltender Dominik Hašek. In the final game, Hašek stopped all 20 shots he faced, while the Czechs got their lone goal with less than 12 minutes to play on a slapper from the point from veteran defenceman Petr Svoboda.
The Czechs immediately flew back home to Prague to celebrate the victory at Staroměstské náměstí.
Friday, May 6, 2011
The Gentle Rivalry
by Risto Pakarinen
IIHF.com
BRATISLAVA – The Czechs and the Slovaks are truly like brothers: They’re same, but different. They share a long history, and they understand each other, even if they don’t speak the same language. After decades of living side by side, they’ve been on their own like this for almost 20 years. The differences may be subtle sometimes, but they’re there.
For example, the non-violent revolution that overthrew the communist government of Czechoslovakia, is called the Velvet Revolution in the Czech Republic. In Slovakia, the same event is called the Gentle Revolution. The name in Czech is sametová revoluce, while in Slovak it’s called nežná revolúcia.
For the players here, though, Czechoslovakia is almost ancient history, as 39-year-old Jaromír Jágr is the only player on the Czech team who represented Czechoslovakia, having played in one World U20 Championship, one World Championship, and the 1991 Canada Cup under the old flag (which is, for the Czechs, also the same as the new flag).
Slovakia’s Jozef Stümpel, too, played for Czechoslovakia in the 1991 World U20 Championship, but if there’s one player who might have special butterflies in his stomach tonight, it must be Pavol Demitra. Born in Dubnica nad Vahom, some 150 kilometres north of Bratislava, the now 36-year-old centre skates to the ice as Slovakia’s popular captain.
Demitra was also on the last team Czechoslovakia ever iced. As the two countries separated on January 1, 1993, Demitra and his Czechoslovak teammates were in the middle of a World U20 Championship in Gävle, Sweden.
"That was very tough (for us) because at that time, the group we had was very tight. I remember after the New Year, when we’d won a couple of games, and they didn’t play our national song anymore. That was very weird," Demitra tells IIHF.com.
"I remember that after we won the bronze medal, everybody sang the Czechoslovak national anthem all together (for the last time), and that was very special," he says.
In the final standings, the team was called "Czech/Slovak Republics". The Czechs went on to host the next year’s tournament, having inherited the Czech Republic’s spot in the top division, but Slovakia quickly returned to the top as well after the new country’s hockey body had joined the IIHF.
The 2011 teams are practically the first generation to have played their entire careers under Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The rivalry is definitely there, it’s on, but it seems to lack the animosity that some other sports rivalries have.
"It’s a hockey game just like any other. The Czechs get along with Slovaks very well, so there’s no problem from our side to play them, and not feel any different," says the Czech Republic’s coach Alois Hadamczik, who’s been behind the bench in games against Slovakia before, most notably in the 2006 Olympics quarter-final, which the Czechs won 3-1.
The only person who’s ever represented Czechoslovakia, besides Jágr, may be the team doctor, jokes Hadamczik.
"There will probably be bigger tensions in the stands than on the ice," he says.
In the Czechs previous games in the tournament, the crowd has been fully behind them, cheering them on, and creating an unforgettable atmosphere for the game.
"The atmosphere is fantastic. It's nice to have that advantage. For me, playing here is like being at home. Well, my home is just an hour from here. You can say that we get the advantages of being at home, but not the pressure of playing at home," says Czech forward Martin Havlát.
Tonight, the crowd will most certainly be behind the Slovaks, who are truly at home. The Czechs are only almost at home.
IIHF.com
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For example, the non-violent revolution that overthrew the communist government of Czechoslovakia, is called the Velvet Revolution in the Czech Republic. In Slovakia, the same event is called the Gentle Revolution. The name in Czech is sametová revoluce, while in Slovak it’s called nežná revolúcia.
For the players here, though, Czechoslovakia is almost ancient history, as 39-year-old Jaromír Jágr is the only player on the Czech team who represented Czechoslovakia, having played in one World U20 Championship, one World Championship, and the 1991 Canada Cup under the old flag (which is, for the Czechs, also the same as the new flag).
Slovakia’s Jozef Stümpel, too, played for Czechoslovakia in the 1991 World U20 Championship, but if there’s one player who might have special butterflies in his stomach tonight, it must be Pavol Demitra. Born in Dubnica nad Vahom, some 150 kilometres north of Bratislava, the now 36-year-old centre skates to the ice as Slovakia’s popular captain.
Demitra was also on the last team Czechoslovakia ever iced. As the two countries separated on January 1, 1993, Demitra and his Czechoslovak teammates were in the middle of a World U20 Championship in Gävle, Sweden.
"That was very tough (for us) because at that time, the group we had was very tight. I remember after the New Year, when we’d won a couple of games, and they didn’t play our national song anymore. That was very weird," Demitra tells IIHF.com.
"I remember that after we won the bronze medal, everybody sang the Czechoslovak national anthem all together (for the last time), and that was very special," he says.
In the final standings, the team was called "Czech/Slovak Republics". The Czechs went on to host the next year’s tournament, having inherited the Czech Republic’s spot in the top division, but Slovakia quickly returned to the top as well after the new country’s hockey body had joined the IIHF.
The 2011 teams are practically the first generation to have played their entire careers under Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The rivalry is definitely there, it’s on, but it seems to lack the animosity that some other sports rivalries have.
"It’s a hockey game just like any other. The Czechs get along with Slovaks very well, so there’s no problem from our side to play them, and not feel any different," says the Czech Republic’s coach Alois Hadamczik, who’s been behind the bench in games against Slovakia before, most notably in the 2006 Olympics quarter-final, which the Czechs won 3-1.
The only person who’s ever represented Czechoslovakia, besides Jágr, may be the team doctor, jokes Hadamczik.
"There will probably be bigger tensions in the stands than on the ice," he says.
In the Czechs previous games in the tournament, the crowd has been fully behind them, cheering them on, and creating an unforgettable atmosphere for the game.
"The atmosphere is fantastic. It's nice to have that advantage. For me, playing here is like being at home. Well, my home is just an hour from here. You can say that we get the advantages of being at home, but not the pressure of playing at home," says Czech forward Martin Havlát.
Tonight, the crowd will most certainly be behind the Slovaks, who are truly at home. The Czechs are only almost at home.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Jágr and Pavelec lead Czechs to victory over Finland
The Czechs passed their first big test at the 2011 World Championship in Bratislava, beating Finland 2-1. The win put them on top of their group and sets them up in good standing for the Qualification Round. More than that, however, were some encouraging signs in the win, with some of the team's concerns being addressed.
To begin with, they finally got a goal from Jaromír Jágr. After putting up 6 points in 3 games in the Czech Hockey Games the weekend before the World Championships, Jágr had been shut out in the first 2 games in Bratislava.
Before the game, Jágr told eurohockey.com's David Schlegel, "So far there has not been any need to earn points. I will start when it is needed." He backed up that statement against Finland, scoring what proved to be the game-winning goal early in the third period when he scooped in a rebound over a fallen Petri Vehanen to put the Czechs up 2-0.
They also got a stellar goaltending performance from Ondřej Pavelec. "Our goalie Pavelec had a fantastic game and we probably wouldn't have won without him," understated Czech defenceman Lukáš Krajiček after the game.
Some Czech fans were nervous about the team's goaltending situation after Tomáš Vokoun announced he wouldn't be playing. However, Pavelec has aquitted himself well so far in his first major tournament as the team's starting keeper. He picked up his third-straight win on Wednesday, following up his shutout over Denmark with a remarkable 32-save performance.
His best save of the night may have been off Tuomo Ruutu in the second period, when the Finns were threatening on the power-play and Pavelec appeared to be down and out after stopping the first shot and in no position to stop the rebound. He recovered, however, to make a pad save and preserve the 1-0 lead. Pavelec was just 19 seconds away from recording back-to-back shutouts when Anssi Salmela beat him with a shot from the point to get Finland on the board.
The top three teams in Groups A and D now combine together to form Group E, with the bottom team in each group, Slovenia and Latvia, heading to the Relegation Round. The Czechs carry their victories over Denmark and Finland to the next round and currently tied for first place in the Group with Germany; each team has 6 points. They are followed by Finland and Russia with 3 points each, while Slovakia and Denmark are both pointless. The top four advance to the quarterfinals.
The Czechs open the Qualifying Round, as it is called, on Friday at 20:15 CET against the tournament hosts from Slovakia. They then play Russia on Sunday at 16:15 and Germany on Monday at 20:15.
Each team is permitted to add two players to its roster for the Qualifying Round, and on Thursday the Czechs added defenceman Ondřej Němec. This means they can now dress the maximum of 20 skaters on Friday. They had been one below that for the past two games due to the injury to defenceman Radek Martínek, who is out of the tournament with a concussion and a neck injury. They could still add one more.
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Jaromír Jágr scored the game-winning goal against Finland. Photo: Matthew Manor, HHOF-IIHF Images. |
Before the game, Jágr told eurohockey.com's David Schlegel, "So far there has not been any need to earn points. I will start when it is needed." He backed up that statement against Finland, scoring what proved to be the game-winning goal early in the third period when he scooped in a rebound over a fallen Petri Vehanen to put the Czechs up 2-0.
They also got a stellar goaltending performance from Ondřej Pavelec. "Our goalie Pavelec had a fantastic game and we probably wouldn't have won without him," understated Czech defenceman Lukáš Krajiček after the game.
Some Czech fans were nervous about the team's goaltending situation after Tomáš Vokoun announced he wouldn't be playing. However, Pavelec has aquitted himself well so far in his first major tournament as the team's starting keeper. He picked up his third-straight win on Wednesday, following up his shutout over Denmark with a remarkable 32-save performance.
His best save of the night may have been off Tuomo Ruutu in the second period, when the Finns were threatening on the power-play and Pavelec appeared to be down and out after stopping the first shot and in no position to stop the rebound. He recovered, however, to make a pad save and preserve the 1-0 lead. Pavelec was just 19 seconds away from recording back-to-back shutouts when Anssi Salmela beat him with a shot from the point to get Finland on the board.
The top three teams in Groups A and D now combine together to form Group E, with the bottom team in each group, Slovenia and Latvia, heading to the Relegation Round. The Czechs carry their victories over Denmark and Finland to the next round and currently tied for first place in the Group with Germany; each team has 6 points. They are followed by Finland and Russia with 3 points each, while Slovakia and Denmark are both pointless. The top four advance to the quarterfinals.
The Czechs open the Qualifying Round, as it is called, on Friday at 20:15 CET against the tournament hosts from Slovakia. They then play Russia on Sunday at 16:15 and Germany on Monday at 20:15.
Each team is permitted to add two players to its roster for the Qualifying Round, and on Thursday the Czechs added defenceman Ondřej Němec. This means they can now dress the maximum of 20 skaters on Friday. They had been one below that for the past two games due to the injury to defenceman Radek Martínek, who is out of the tournament with a concussion and a neck injury. They could still add one more.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Czechs start 2-0, now real tournament begins
With their 6-0 victory over Denmark on Monday, the Czech Republic improved its record to 2-0 at the World Championships. With no disrespect to the Latvian or Danish teams, the real tournament starts now.
The early match-ups at the World Championships are always full of upsets, as the Russians and Swedes can attest to this year. By winning their first two games, the Czechs have done well to avoid that trap, although such early losses to lesser teams rarely have an impact on the tournament's final standings.
On Saturday, they were tied with Latvia 2-2 into the third period, when Martin Havlát scored by ripping a shot from the top of the slot inside the post early in the final frame. Roman Červenka took an advantage of a neutral-zone turnover in the late-going and scored on a breakaway to make it a 4-2 final.
On Monday, they held a slim 1-0 lead against Denmark until the midway point of the second, and then broke the game wide open with four goals in a span of 3:04. First Milan Michálek scored twice, once on a breakaway and then another on a tap-in on a power-play 1:43 later. Michael Frolík added his second of the game on a flutterball from the point that eluded Danish goalkeeper Patrick Galbraith. Tomáš Plekanec scored in his first game of the tournament to make it 4-0, and finally Petr Průcha added one more in a third period that completely lacked any drama or emotion, with the game clearly decided already.
Ondřej Pavelec, in his first major tournament as the Czech starting netminder, made 24 saves for the shutout. "I am very happy that our young goalie got the shutout," Czech coach Alois Hadamczik told eurohockey.com's Henrik Lundqvist after the game. "It is very important for our number-one goalie."
With both Latvia and Denmark now 0-2, they face each other on Wednesday, with the loser headed to the Relegation Round. Also on Wednesday, the Czechs face Finland in their first real test of the tournament. Underscoring the importance of the game, it will be aired on ČT1 in the Czech Republic instead of the usual ČT4 Sport, live at 20:15 CET. "Finland is a great team, and it's not going to be an easy game," said Havlát.
Wednesday is when the jockeying for position will begin. Looking ahead to the next round, they will likely face Russia, Slovakia, and the surprisingly 2-0 Germans. Together with the winner of the Latvia-Denmark game, only four of those six will advance to the quarterfinals.
The early match-ups at the World Championships are always full of upsets, as the Russians and Swedes can attest to this year. By winning their first two games, the Czechs have done well to avoid that trap, although such early losses to lesser teams rarely have an impact on the tournament's final standings.
On Saturday, they were tied with Latvia 2-2 into the third period, when Martin Havlát scored by ripping a shot from the top of the slot inside the post early in the final frame. Roman Červenka took an advantage of a neutral-zone turnover in the late-going and scored on a breakaway to make it a 4-2 final.
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| Milan Michálek's 2 quick goals put Monday's game against Denmark away. Photo: Francois Larrede, flikr.com. |
Ondřej Pavelec, in his first major tournament as the Czech starting netminder, made 24 saves for the shutout. "I am very happy that our young goalie got the shutout," Czech coach Alois Hadamczik told eurohockey.com's Henrik Lundqvist after the game. "It is very important for our number-one goalie."
With both Latvia and Denmark now 0-2, they face each other on Wednesday, with the loser headed to the Relegation Round. Also on Wednesday, the Czechs face Finland in their first real test of the tournament. Underscoring the importance of the game, it will be aired on ČT1 in the Czech Republic instead of the usual ČT4 Sport, live at 20:15 CET. "Finland is a great team, and it's not going to be an easy game," said Havlát.
Wednesday is when the jockeying for position will begin. Looking ahead to the next round, they will likely face Russia, Slovakia, and the surprisingly 2-0 Germans. Together with the winner of the Latvia-Denmark game, only four of those six will advance to the quarterfinals.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Czechs win game, lose Martínek for the tournament
The Czech Republic opened the 2011 World Championship on Saturday with a 4-2 win over Latvia, but what they lost was far more valuable. Radek Martínek, considered one of the team's top defencemen, has been lost for the tournament with a severe concussion.
Fourteen and a half minutes into the first period, he was chipping the puck deep into the Latvian zone when he was hit hard by defenceman Artūrs Kulda into the boards. Martínek then collapsed to the ice.
Play was stopped immediately as Martínek lay motionless. Paramedics were summoned, and the injured New York Islanders blueliner was stabilized, taken from the ice on a stretcher and then to the hospital via ambulance.
Kulda was not penalized on the play, but on Sunday the IIHF announced that he had been suspended for three games. “The video showed Artūrs Kulda jumping into the situation, hitting Martinek’s head and neck area,” said Jan-Ake Edvinsson, Chairman of the federation's Disciplinary Panel.
Though the hit did not seem especially vicious, the IIHF has been particularly vigilant this year about punishing checks that make contact with an opponent's head, even accidentally. At the World Juniors in Buffalo this past winter, Czech defenceman Petr Šenkeřík was knocked unconscious when he was hit in mid ice by Canadian forward Zack Kassian, resulting in a two-game suspension. Although, like Kulda, Kassian did not seem to actually target his opponent's head, contact was made which caused injury.
This is the latest incident in an ever-growing issue in the sport, in which punishing head shots has become a hotly-contested debate in various leagues around the world, including the NHL.
Immediately following the game, coach Alois Hadamczik was still hopeful that Martínek could return before the end of the tournament, however the diagnosis released on Sunday by IIHF Medical Supervisor Dr. Beat Villiger all but rules that out.
“The player has suffered a severe concussion and a severe bruise (hematoma),” he said. “The CT scan showed no further injuries, but there is very little chance that he can play in the championship.”
David Schlegel of eurohockey.com reports that the injury could have even been life-threatening.
"His life was in jeopardy," said Czech team doctor Radomír Holibka. "He is okay now, but he'll remain in hospital in Bratislava." The doctor said that he should remain in hospital for at least 24 hours for examination and would need at least six weeks of rest.
While the Czechs were forced to play the rest of the game with five defencemen, they will be back up to six against Denmark on Monday as Zbyněk Michálek, along with forward Tomáš Plekanec, are scheduled to make their tournament debuts.
The loss of Michálek means that the Czechs will almost certainly use one of their two extra roster spots on an additional defenceman, possibly two. The names Roman Hamrlík and Jaroslav Špáček have both been mentioned, but if they aren't available, it could mean that either Ondřej Němec or Jakub Nakládal, who are still with the national team but haven't been added to the tournament roster, may see some action.
Fourteen and a half minutes into the first period, he was chipping the puck deep into the Latvian zone when he was hit hard by defenceman Artūrs Kulda into the boards. Martínek then collapsed to the ice.
Play was stopped immediately as Martínek lay motionless. Paramedics were summoned, and the injured New York Islanders blueliner was stabilized, taken from the ice on a stretcher and then to the hospital via ambulance.
Kulda was not penalized on the play, but on Sunday the IIHF announced that he had been suspended for three games. “The video showed Artūrs Kulda jumping into the situation, hitting Martinek’s head and neck area,” said Jan-Ake Edvinsson, Chairman of the federation's Disciplinary Panel.
Though the hit did not seem especially vicious, the IIHF has been particularly vigilant this year about punishing checks that make contact with an opponent's head, even accidentally. At the World Juniors in Buffalo this past winter, Czech defenceman Petr Šenkeřík was knocked unconscious when he was hit in mid ice by Canadian forward Zack Kassian, resulting in a two-game suspension. Although, like Kulda, Kassian did not seem to actually target his opponent's head, contact was made which caused injury.
This is the latest incident in an ever-growing issue in the sport, in which punishing head shots has become a hotly-contested debate in various leagues around the world, including the NHL.
Immediately following the game, coach Alois Hadamczik was still hopeful that Martínek could return before the end of the tournament, however the diagnosis released on Sunday by IIHF Medical Supervisor Dr. Beat Villiger all but rules that out.
“The player has suffered a severe concussion and a severe bruise (hematoma),” he said. “The CT scan showed no further injuries, but there is very little chance that he can play in the championship.”
David Schlegel of eurohockey.com reports that the injury could have even been life-threatening.
"His life was in jeopardy," said Czech team doctor Radomír Holibka. "He is okay now, but he'll remain in hospital in Bratislava." The doctor said that he should remain in hospital for at least 24 hours for examination and would need at least six weeks of rest.
While the Czechs were forced to play the rest of the game with five defencemen, they will be back up to six against Denmark on Monday as Zbyněk Michálek, along with forward Tomáš Plekanec, are scheduled to make their tournament debuts.
The loss of Michálek means that the Czechs will almost certainly use one of their two extra roster spots on an additional defenceman, possibly two. The names Roman Hamrlík and Jaroslav Špáček have both been mentioned, but if they aren't available, it could mean that either Ondřej Němec or Jakub Nakládal, who are still with the national team but haven't been added to the tournament roster, may see some action.
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