At last year’s championship, the Czech para-hockey players rejoiced at the historic win of bronze medals, the success at that time was balanced by several unlucky fourth places, among others, in the home championship in Ostrava. “Each time I see pictures or videos from the last World Cup, I get emotional,” coach Jakub Novotný admitted.
“It turned out there that we have been professionalized for some time, we have more camps, and thanks to that we are also growing,” added national team striker Miroslav Novotný.
The Czech national team operates on the basis of training camps basically throughout the year. “We operate a little differently than the classic national team. We work with the boys throughout the year, by training in three places around the country so that the boys have it within a short driving distance. And then, usually a month before the World Cup, we have three-day camps every week so , so that we can prepare as best as possible,” explained coach Novotný about the preparation.
In addition to Novotný, there are also Jiří Bříza and Jan Szturc in the coaching trio, who share their opinions on team decisions, so their competencies are not strictly divided. “We function as three. As I used to be a goalkeeper, I focused more on the goalkeeper, Honza Szturc has analytical skills, so he makes strategy and tactics, how we should play, and Jirka Bříza gives us confidence in our decisions with his experience. Otherwise, we all do everything ,” noted Novotný.
The team for the world championship has not undergone any changes compared to last year, except for the newly arrived Lukáš Kapek, for whom this will be his first start at a major tournament. There are a total of 15 players in the nomination, including traditional mainstays Pavel Kubeš, Zdeněk Hábl or David Palát and Filip Veselý. In goal will be the experienced pair of Martin Kudela and the most experienced player of the team, Michal Vápenka.
