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NEWS
(Sep. 11, 2004) - Canada 4 Czech Republic
3 F/OT
- In arguably the most entertaining
(and nail biting) game of the tournament, the Czechs came back to tie the
Canadians not once, but twice, eventually forcing overtime. Vincent
Lecavalier scored a goal of Steve Yzerman proportions, getting the winner just
3:45 into the extra frame. Roberto Luongo filled in nicely for the injured
Martin Brodeur, stopping 37 shots from a very determined Czech Republic team.
In this tournament, unfortunately there are no points or medals for second or
even third best, so like the Americans, the Czech Republic will go home, and
Canada will face Finland in the World Cup final.
(Sep. 7, 2004) - Czech Republic 6
Sweden 1 - So much for home ice
advantage. Milan Hejduk scored twice, while Martin Straka, Martin Havlat,
Marek Zidlicky and Radek Dvorak tallied for the Czechs, who led 5-0 before the
Swedes pulled one back when playing short-handed late in the third period.
Tomas Holmstrom had the lone goal for Sweden. Team Czech Republic will now
await their semi finals opponent, which will either be Canada, Russia, or the
U.S.A., and Sweden is eliminated.
(Sep. 3, 2004) - It
took three games, but Jaromir Jagr and the
Czech Republic finally picked up their first win. Jagr was one of seven
different goal scorers in a 7-2 rout over winless Germany.
(Sep. 1, 2004) - Sweden
went into the third period leading the
Czechs, 4-0. With five minutes remaining the score was 4-3, and the Swedes were
on the verge of panic, but would hold on for the win.
(Aug. 30, 2004) - The
death of Ivan Hlinka must still weigh heavily
on the minds of Team Czech Republic, as their effort on the ice during a 4-0
loss to Finland was lacklustre at best. Miikka Kiprusoff only needed to
stop 12 shots to earn the shutout, and four different players scored for
Finland. The Czechs will need a much better effort going forward if they
have any hope of advancing past the round robin.
(Aug. 28, 2004) - Ottawa Senators
goaltender Martin Prusek withdrew
from the Czech national team for the World Cup of Hockey starting next week due
to a hip injury.
(Aug 27, 2004) - Tomas Vlasak,
Martin Straka, Tomas Kaberle, Vaclav
Prospal and Jiri Slegr scored as the Czech Republic beat Sweden 5-3 in their
last World Cup warmup on Friday. Sweden captain Mats Sundin scored two goals.
"The result is not of major importance in such a friendly," Czech assistant
coach Marian Jelinek said. "But we're satisfied with our performance."
Markus Naslund opened the scoring 4:42 in with a power-play goal after a pass
from Sundin. Petr Cajanek set up a power-play tying goal for the Czechs
with a perfect pass to unmarked Vlasak -one of only two members of the Czech
World Cup team based in Europe -who scored from close range with 16 seconds
remaining in the first period. Straka gave the Czechs a 2-1 lead at 6:50
in the second when he wristed the puck between the legs of Sweden goalie Mikael
Tellqvist. Radek Dvorak set up the goal. Kaberle added the third for the
Czechs from close range at 16:52 in the second. Prospal made it 4-1 at
6:31 in the third period, capitalizing on a Tellqvist blunder. Sweden
replied just 45 seconds later with Sundin's first goal. Sweden coach Hardy
Nilsson pulled off Tellqvist at 16:53 and Sundin scored his second with 41
seconds remaining to reduce the Czech lead to 4-3. Slegr finished the
scoring into an empty net nine seconds before the final whistle. Major
stars of both teams, Jaromir Jagr of the New York Rangers and Peter Forsberg of
the Colorado Avalanche, did not play.
(Aug. 25, 2004) - In Cologne,
Germany, the Czech Republc routed host
Germany, 7-4. (Aug 23, 2004) - Marek
Zidlicky scored a power play goal with 5:02 to play in third period to help the
host Czech Republic scratch out a 1-1 tie Monday night against Finland in a
World Cup tune-up match at Sazka Arena. Jeri Lehtinen opened the scoring
for Finland at 5:06 of the second period. (Aug 16, 2004) - Czech Republic
national hockey team coach Ivan Hlinka died Monday after sustaining serious
injuries in a car crash. Hlinka was taken to a hospital for treatment
where he died, after his car collided with a truck. Many players of
the Czech Republic were close to the coach and played under him in international
competition. It will be interesting to see how this will affect Team Czech
Republic, who made a remarkable turnaround after failing to win a single game in
1996's World Cup and then going on to win the Gold Medal in 1998 at the Winter
Olympics in Nagano. Vladimir Ruzicka has been named head coach as Hlinka's
replacement. |
