Team Czechia has been a hot team to watch over the past few years in the World Juniors. With two bronze medals and a silver medal, they are coming back again this year hungry. I remember predicting that Czechia would actually upset for gold in the 2023 World Juniors, and they came so close. At this point in the year, I’m not making predictions yet on who I think will finish where, but I’m sure the Czechs will again be high up on that list. Team Czechia has already released their camp-roster, so these are predictions about who will make it out of camp.
Goaltending
Michael Hrabal
Jan Kavan
Jakub Milota
HM: Lukas Matecha
Now, the Czechs have already released their initial camp for the World Juniors, and while there are surprises, there really aren’t any for goaltending. I had Hrabal and Milota as locks to play for Czechia. However, there was a tossup between Kavan and Lukas Matecha for me – and it looks like Kavan won that tossup. Milota was drafted last year and will be the only 06 goalie on the roster – boasting a .908 SV% in 24 games in the QMJHL. Of course, the returning 2005 is Michael Hrabal. The Utah Hockey Club prospect was drafted 38th in 2023 and has a .920 SV% in 15 NCAA games for UMass this season. Hrabal should be the starter and will be a huge help to Czechia.
Defence
Matteo Koci
Tomas Galvas
Adam Jiricek *
Jakub Dvorak
Jakub Fibigr
Patrik Volas
Vojtech Port
Vojtech Husinecky
This is where I have some major concerns over the camp selections and the omissions. My predictions back in November saw Josef Eichler, Dominik Badinka, and Radim Mrtka as making the final roster – with none of them mentioned in the camp. Eichler could be considered a tossup, but Badinka and Mrtka are surprising.
I’m glad to see Koci back on the roster as someone who I’ve liked watching for a few years now in the WHL. Tomas Galvas was wrongfully undrafted last year and should make a name for himself as an overager this year, especially at the World Juniors. Adam Jiricek would be the last returnee if he were to come back from injury.
As for newcomers, I predict that Jakub Dvorak will make the final team. The AHL defender has 2 points in 13 games this season and will be noticeable on both ends of the ice. Volas will make the team as a rangy defender who they will use on the backend as a shut-down guy. Port and Husinecky will both make the final cut, along with a player who I really like – 2006-born defender Jakub Fibigr. A great two-way guy, Fibigr will be useful to the Czechs – and I was really surprised it took 7 rounds before he was drafted last year.
Forwards
Matej Mastalirsky
Eduard Sale
Jakub Stancl
Adam Zidlicky
Jiri Felcman
Adam Jecho
Vojtech Hradec
Petr Sikora
Dominik Petr
Miroslav Holinka
Ondrej Kos
Adam Novotny
Pavel Simek
Now, I didn’t have as many surprises up front for the forwards as the defence – but there are still an omission who I must mention: Adam Benak. I am just surprised that someone who has always performed above expectations on the International stage would be omitted from the training camp roster. While I like the forwards the Czechs are bringing, I feel Benak would have made the team a little bit better.
For returning players, Matej Mastalirsky and Adam Zidlicky will both be a year older and should make a bigger impact – where players like Jakub Stancl (6 points in 7 games last year) and Eduard Sale (7 points in 7 games last year) will both be relied on for offence – and will be two noticeable standouts on the team. Sale has also posted 12 points in 18 AHL games this year, and his flashy and skill-style play will earn him attention.
For new 2005-born players, Jiri Felcman will make an impact, as the big forward is playing professional hockey in Switzerland this year, and Vojtech Hradec is another large-forward who will offer offence and physicality to the team. From the WHL, Dominik Petr and Miroslav Holinka will be two guys to watch – Petr with 26 points in 23 games this season will offer more of a skill-based play style to the team while Holinka, who has 21 points in 23 games, will be another physical and smart player who will be relied on constantly. Lastly, I think Pavel Simek will make the team as the 13th forward.
For the 2006s who I expect to make the final roster, Ondrej Kos has been splitting time between U20 Finnish action and Liiga – and has size to go with him. Adam Jecho, who has 23 points in 25 WHL games this year, will be the most notable 2006 on the team, along with Petr Sikora, who has been playing in the Czech professional league and was drafted by Washington in the 6th round last year.
Lastly, I fully believe that Adam Novotny will make the team as a late-2007. The kid has been known as a top-prospect for a few years now, and while not eligible until the 2026 NHL Draft, Novotny has 3 points in the Czech professional league as a 16/17 year old, and was also a PPG player at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup early this season.
Conclusion
While I really like Hrabal and the forward group that Team Czechia are taking, I can’t help but feel like they lose some value, surprisingly, by not picking the two most prominent Czech draft-eligible prospects to this tournament. Benak and Mrtka are both commonly ranked in the first, and both would have added value to this team. I believe that Team Czechia will struggle defensively a tad, which will heavily put the pressure on Michael Hrabal to play well this tournament.
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