“We have to respect the information that comes from Finland. Smejkal himself was tested positively and no player will be released from the Jokerit for this part of the European hockey tour, because epidemiological measures have fallen on the whole club, “explained coach Filip Pešán.
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The cadre of the national team, which will start the tournament with Thursday’s Prague match with the Finns, was hastily completed by the 25-year-old forward from Třinec Michal Kovařčík, who will wear the Czech jersey for the first time since February 2020 and will be the least experienced member of Pešán’s current selection with just two international matches.
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David David Sklenička (Helsinki Jokerit) and Jiří Smejkal (Pelicans Lahti) apologized for the Channel One Cup due to quarantine measures in the clubs. Defender Filip Pyrochta (SaiPa Laapeenranta) and forward Michal Kovařčík (HC Oceláři Třinec) will complete the nomination. #narodnitym
– Hockey National (@narodnitym) December 13, 2021
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Together with Kovařčík, Filip Pyrochta, a defender of the same age, who has already played in Karjala, was called from the thirteenth club of the Finnish league SaiPa Laapeenranta. “Eventually, Kovařčík managed to reach us, even though he had a difficult move across the entire republic,” said the coach.
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However, the representatives were far from complete for Monday’s training on the Holešovice ice. Legionnaires from the KHL Libor Šulák and Lukáš Klok, who travel from the eastern regions of Russia, were also missing. The two Spartans Michal Řepík and Vladimír Sobotka did not arrive either, who should go with the Prague team to Tuesday’s retaliation of the Champions League in Rögle, Sweden.
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“We are quite surprised by the tension that has developed around this issue and I do not understand why the Prague team is so enclosed. According to my information, general manager Petr Nedvěd insists that he talked about the inclusion of players in the national team with the management of Sparta and now he is conducting further negotiations with the club from abroad, where he is on an inspection trip. We will all probably be wiser on Tuesday, but I would like to address sports issues rather than messing up in this communication dispute, “the coach indicated.
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Participation in the top club competition will also be delayed by the arrival of forward Michael Špaček from Frölunda. On the other hand, at the center of David Krejčí, who will wear the national team jersey for the first time since the 2018 World Cup, it is true that he will play the Prague match with the Finns and will no longer travel to Moscow during the weekend fights. “We also gave David time off for Monday’s training. The complication is that both Spartans should have gotten on the wings, but at the moment I have to think of an alternative alternative, “added Pešán.
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He is clear about how to use other returnees to the regular team. Michael Frolík and Milan Gulaš will appear alongside the middle forward Jan Kovář. “Such was the decision of Petr Nedvěd, who is responsible for the composition of the team and I will stick to it. I would like the whole attack to play all three matches in this line-up, including the Moscow team, on Saturday against the Russians and on Sunday with the Swedes, “said Pesan, who remains with his original plan to complete the tournament with only a pair of goalkeepers Simon Hrubec , Roman Will.
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