Preview of the 2024 World Championship in Visp and Raron: Rosters, Insights, and Reactions

The Ball Hockey World Championship for men and women in Switzerland is literally knocking on the door. Next weekend, the cities of Visp and Raron will host nine days of this magnificent sport, featuring the best players in the world. Our Czech teams will be defending their silver medals.

Men’s National Team

Coach Jiří Mašík has largely relied on familiar names with experience from previous tournaments. Thirteen players from the current roster were part of last year’s championship. Notably, Dalimil Zvonek and Jan Čejka will be among the key players for the Czech squad. Seven ball hockey players from the Extraliga champions Kert Park Praha and five from the runners-up Hostivař are included in the team. Defender Jan Pospíšil, a two-time world champion, first competed in a major tournament in 2009 and will be participating in his eighth World Championship this year. Other familiar faces include forwards Martin Kruček and Jan Bílý, defender Tomáš Kudela, and goalie Leoš Gerlich—all four remember the golden tournament of 2011.

“The strength of this year’s team is enormous, possibly the strongest I’ve ever seen. Especially in the offense, as confirmed by the coaches, who said it was the toughest decision. The team has seasoned veterans as well as eager young players. My role will mainly be to perform solid work on defense, as the days of running from one goal to another are long gone. In the locker room, the older players serve as a bridge between the players and the coaching staff. And, of course, there’s the most important role—team treasurer,” says Jan Pospíšil, our most experienced player and a Kladno defender, with a smile.

One of our newcomers and a dynamic young talent is forward Matyáš Bláha from Svítkovské Hvězdy, who is eagerly anticipating his first major tournament with the senior team. “I’m incredibly excited for this year’s championship. I only have one World Championship experience with the U20s last year, but I dare say that it won’t compare to what’s coming. When the coaches announced my name during the final roster selection, I was literally stunned and hoped I didn’t mishear. I am incredibly happy, especially after how poorly this season started for me (ankle injury), which caused me to miss almost the entire fall season, and it’s amazing that I managed to make the final roster,” says the Svítkov forward. Another newcomer is goaltender Vojtěch Mokry from Karviná, who also plays in the hockey Chance League.

Women’s National Team

Team leader Michal Broulík is also taking familiar faces to Switzerland, although the roster has changed considerably since the last season. Still, players like Barbora Patočková, Lucie Rejlová, and Patricie Škorpíková will again be among the key players, aiming to at least repeat last year’s success. “It’s never easy to select the final roster each year because you consider several circumstances until the last moment. Different situations can arise each year that need to be addressed. Injuries and other personal circumstances affected the roster selection the most this year, leading to some players being left out. I expect a high standard from everyone, supported by the maximum effort that can be made at the moment for success,” explains coach Michal Broulík.

The most experienced member of the team is undoubtedly forward Lucie Manhartová, who will be making her ninth appearance at a major tournament. “I’m looking forward to this year’s championship just as much as any other. I love it, mainly because it’s a chance to break out of my daily routine and spend a week doing what I love, always with a great group, and when it all comes together, it’s an incredible experience,” says the forward from the Prague club KOVO. How does Lucie Manhartová see the strength of this year’s team? “To be honest, we lost quite a few key players from the last championship, especially the more experienced ones, and this experience, both on the field and mentally, might be what we miss at the tournament. We have a lot of young players in the team, with some attending their first championship. Anyway, the preparation is behind us, and now we just have to hope that we are better prepared both individually and as a team than our opponents. Of course, we’re aiming for gold!” she adds.