Riga (from our correspondent) – Although the result spoke clearly, it was definitely not the first third that the Czech team wanted after the previous struggles with Latvia and Slovenia. During the 5-on-5 game, the Norwegians outplayed the Czechs in many moments, Vejmelka, who was given the number one position for the second time in a row, had to fend for himself, and in the goalless situation, only his difficult saves saved the Czechs from difficulties.
Reassurance was brought only by the power play, a strong Czech weapon in the championship and above all its element named Dominik Kubalík. With a 5-on-3 advantage, he traditionally reached for his golf club on the right side and hit it accurately. And it was even merrier until the break. Defender Kempný held the puck, raised his head and then with a precise pass found the free Flek, who completed the solo with a skillful finish. By the way, goalkeeper Vejmelka also scored an assist on the goal.
In the second part, the Czechs faced a tough test. Voženílek was sent off until the end of the game and it was – perhaps compared to the week-old hit by Slovák Koch on Chlapík – a rather contradictory decision by the judges. But the Czech fighters managed to weaken for five minutes. They even had two “tuts” in it, when first the lone duo Sobotka – Smejkal rushed at the Norwegian goalkeeper Haukeland, a moment later Flek was also in solo. However, the Norwegian man with the mask resisted.
However, due to the fact that Lenka and Němeček were sent off after Voženielka’s penalty, the Czechs played half of the third period without one man on the ice, which on the one hand took away the strength of the defending players and on the other hand, fighters such as Červenka and Kubalík, whose work is not weakened, were out of pace. They played barely three minutes in the third period.
“We played a really good first period, but the second period? I have to give huge credit to those who started in the half. They did a great job. Really. Vejmelka also did a great job behind the defense. He kept it 2-0. In the third period we played very smart, we didn’t let them do anything. I liked how the players fought. That was big,” coach Kari Jalonen said.
Yes, the Czechs were more disciplined in the final 20 minutes. Still, the two-goal lead, which they failed to increase in the six minutes of the power play, forced caution. The team was driven by four thousand Czech fans, whose jumping made the arena shake, but it was as if the midday game, the management and the fact that the Swiss will come on Sunday, had their signature on the pace…
… but you know, it’s the points that matter.
| Ice Hockey World Championship – Group B (Riga) |
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| Czech Republic – Norway 2:0 (2:0, 0:0, 0:0) |
| Goals and assists: 13. D. Kubalík (Košťálek, Červenka), 19. Flek (Kempný, Vejmelka). Referees: Schrader (German), Štolc – Cattaneo (both Swiss), Kroyer (Danish). Exclusion: 3:6, plus D. Voženílek (CZ) 5 min. and until the end of the match. Usage: 1:0. Viewers: 5348. |
| Czech Republic: Vejmelka – Kundrátek, Kempný, Košťálek, T. Dvořák, J. Zbořil, Jordán, Němeček – D. Kubalík, Sobotka, Červenka – O. Beránek, Černoch, Flek – Tomášek, M. Špaček, Smejkal – M. Kaut, D. Voženílek, Lenc – from 43. plus Chlapík. Coach: K. Jalonen. |
| Norwegian: Haukeland – Nörstebö, Lilleberg, Johannesen, Engeland Andersen, Krogdahl, Kasastul, Hansen – Valkvae Olsen, Vikingstad, Berg-Paulsen – Olden, Trettenes, Martinsen – E. Salsten, KA Olimb, Haga – Vesterheim, H. Salsten, Hoff – N. Steen. Coach: T. Johansson. |
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