Preview of the Junior World Championship in Žilina 2024

The men’s and women’s World Championships are behind us, but the season isn’t over yet. Up next is another World Championship, this time for the U18 and U16 juniors, taking place next weekend in Žilina, Slovakia. Both Czech teams will be defending their gold medals.

U18 National Team

The U18 team won gold at last year’s championship in Liberec and has the highest ambitions for this year’s tournament as well. The coaching staff is taking players to Žilina who have already experienced last year’s success, along with players from the U16 squad who now belong in this category. In a previous interview, assistant coach Jaroslav Procházka stated that they aim to build a fast and aggressive team. Head coach Vít Čapek knows some of the U16 players well, having coached them last year, so he knows what to expect from them. At the start of the tournament, the players will face four games in two days, which is why the coaches emphasized physical fitness in the final selection.

One of the nominated players is forward Filip Jedelský, who plays for HBC Kladno. “I’m really looking forward to the championship. We’ve known each other since the U14 level, and we all want the biggest success. I keep in touch with many of the guys even outside the season, and we’re good friends. I’m personally motivated because I played injured last year and couldn’t give my best on the field,” said the Kladno forward. How satisfied is he with the squad, and where does he see its greatest strength? “The chemistry and quality of the team are excellent, so I have only positive things to say about the lineup. Our greatest asset is our teamwork, which will be our standout feature and the key to success. That’s the main reason why I believe in us at this World Championship,” he added.

U16 National Team

Coach Pavel Štefka’s team will also be defending their gold medal in Slovakia and will be among the tournament favorites. The Czech team will be divided into two squads: red and white. Both teams will face a demanding schedule, playing two games each day.

Assistant coach Filip Červinka spoke ahead of the championship. How difficult was it to finalize the roster, in his opinion? “It was really challenging. We essentially formed two rosters with one coaching staff. There was a lot of competition, especially among the forwards, and for some, it came down to minor factors like current form, behavior on and off the field. Interestingly, there isn’t a big difference between the teams. Some might expect one team to be stronger, but both squads are very strong this year. Of course, we don’t know what the overseas teams will bring or how the Slovaks will perform, especially since they can strengthen their squads with quality hockey players on home turf. But I can say that neither Czech team will be playing second fiddle. The red team has some players who won gold with the same age group at last year’s championship, so this red team is slightly more experienced,” noted Filip Červinka.

How satisfied is he with the preparation before the tournament, and what does he think will be decisive? “We are satisfied with the preparation. Of course, there could always be more time for everything, but that’s how it goes. In a short tournament where you play two games a day, physical fitness and mentality will decide the outcome. I believe we have both aspects at a good level,” he concluded.7

U14 National Team and U18 Girls

While the main focus of the championship will be on the aforementioned teams, the U14 boys and U18 girls will also be participating. In Žilina, they will play only a few friendly matches and will not compete for medals.