Coach Karel Mlejnek’s charges did not play a single preparatory match before the championship. Not through no fault of his own. They lost the general in Red Deer just hours before they had to jump against Switzerland. “We were already at the morning grind on December 23, but shortly after the start came the news that the Swiss have tested positive players and will not be played for violating the covid protocol,” the coach said.
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“It was a desperate situation for us, at least we extended our stay on the ice with classic training and arrived in Edmonton at seven in the evening instead of midnight, but this is not a patch for the complications that caused it,” Mlejnek said during an online call from the championship venue.
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“It simply came to our notice then. We were already mentally ready for the match and suddenly it came down, “admitted striker Ivan Ivan and, together with the coach, hoped that the players’ delight for Thursday’s missed duel would be transferred to their Sunday duel with Canada.
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“But we have to be extremely careful when entering the match, we will face an extremely strong opponent. But I am convinced that each of the boys will do their best, “says the coach, who adheres to his original plan to share the goalkeeper with a portion of the group’s matches, so Malek catches against Canada and Jan Bednar will go to the goal a day later with Germany.
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“Everyone was quite sorry that in the end the only preparatory match with Switzerland had to be canceled,” said another striker Michal Gut. On the other hand, I fully understand that the coaches had to make a decision to close the roster, “Gut said, expressing great respect to defenders Pinkas and attackers Chmelar with Vrhel as they settled their elimination from the squad.
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“It simply came to our notice then. They were also with us on Christmas Eve, which we conceived together very nicely in the spirit that we are with the hockey family when we can not be home, “Gut explained that all complications cemented the Czech team and a Christmas present was a valuable monument for the players. in the form of a watch with an engraved symbol and the year of the championship.
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“Being at the last championship is a return to famous places in Edmonton,” Gut admitted. it just took place in another meeting room, “the coach smiled.
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