Czech hockey is close to the first youth medal from a major tournament since 2017. In addition, the youth reached the semi-finals of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup without a single defeat.
In the fight for the final, the Czechs will challenge Sweden on Saturday at 4:30 a.m. local time, which they wanted, because the second option was Canada. She will face Finland in the semi-finals.
“Probably everyone from our selection wanted Sweden. After all, Canada has slowly the best team here. I watched their matches and I have to say that they are born scorers, they can score a goal from almost anything,” he evaluated the Canadians for Hokej. Czech goalkeeper Michael Hrabal.
The overseas power went through the group of the home tournament in Red Deer with complete confidence. She won three times and increased the score to 23:1.
But the Czechs are also playing a great tournament. They successively defeated Finland 4:3 after raids, Germany 7:2 and the United States 3:1. They advanced to the semi-finals from first place.
“The euphoria is huge. The satisfaction for coaches and players. I’ve experienced it a few times. Then we haven’t experienced anything like it for a long time, but this is why you do hockey. The team certainly deserves praise,” beamed youth coach Jakub Petr, who quit a few months ago with eighteen at the world championships fourth and in 2014 he led it to the famous silver.
At that time, he alternately managed David Pastrňák, Jakub Vrán and Pavel Zach. He has a strong vintage even now.
Probably the biggest star of the current 18 is the 17-year-old winger Eduard Šalé, who collected five points (3+2) in three Hlinka Gretzky Cup races and nine points (1+8) in six games at the relatively recent World Cup.
“Every coach would want him on his team. The most important thing is how he influences other players, who are then better because of him,” said Petr about Šalé. “He has a special gift. He can score from every position at international level and at club level. Also, I adore his personality, you get along with him so easily. He’s always smiling.”
Šalé conquered the Czech junior team last season, and even got a peek into the extra league. He played ten duels for his parent Kometa Brno with a 1+2 statistic.
According to the journalist Coreyho Pronmana he will start the upcoming season in Brno as well, but if he does not establish himself in the A team there, he will probably go to the Canadian junior team, where he will play for Barrie, which drafted him some time ago.
In less than a year, the famous NHL draft awaits Šalé. He could finish very high. Web The Athletic ranked him 14th overall in the preliminary rankings. However, it is necessary to note that only performances in the upcoming year will decide.
“It’s easy to like Šalé,” is the justification for the high position. “He is a well-built winger who skates and controls the puck like an NHL player. He is a great playmaker, he often breaks down the opponent’s defense in the offensive zone thanks to his insight, and he does everything in quick succession.”
Now Šalé could help the Czech Republic to its first youth medal since 2017, when silver was celebrated at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial, from which the current Hlinka Gretzky Cup emerged. The tournament is sometimes referred to as the unofficial World Cup.
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