The roster that the Czechs have brought to a four-team summer tournament in Vierumäki, Finland includes 10 players who have been drafted by NHL teams, including defenseman Radim Mrtka, who as taken ninth overall by the Buffalo Sabres this summer. The roster also includes defenseman Vladimír Dravecký [https://thehockeynews.com/international/players/slovaks-react-to-vladimir-dravecky-jr-playing-for-czechia] and winger Adam Novotný [https://thehockeynews.com/international/czech-club-disappointed-by-adam-novotny-s-decision-to-go-to-ohl], both late-2007-born players who will be eligible to be drafted for the first time in 2026. It does not include any 2008-born players, such as winger Šimon Katolický, who are still eligible to play U-18 hockey and are preparing for this year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup [https://thehockeynews.com/international/venues-schedule-for-2025-hlinka-gretzky-cup]. The Czechs lost their opening game on Sunday, 3-2 in overtime to Finland A [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/helenius-hemming-highlight-finnish-u-20-roster-in-home-tournament]. They play Finland B [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/helenius-hemming-highlight-finnish-u-20-roster-in-home-tournament] on Monday. Then, after the Finns depart overseas for the World Junior Summer Showcase, the Czechs and Swiss will play two more head-to-head games in Finland before heading home. Helenius & Hemming Highlight Finnish U-20 Roster In Home Tournament [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/26aa8948-9530-49a9-b13b-ac35b7dde0b4.webp] Helenius & Hemming Highlight Finnish U-20 Roster In Home Tournament Ahead of next week’s World Junior Summer Challenge in Minnesota, a series of games involving four U-20 teams is taking place in Vierumäki, Finland on Sunday and Monday. Two teams from Finland – essentially an A-team and a B-team – will host the Czech and Swiss national junior teams once each. [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/helenius-hemming-highlight-finnish-u-20-roster-in-home-tournament] Goaltenders: Adam Ebenstreit (Slavia Praha), Jakub Milota (Cape Breton, QMJHL [http://thn.com/qmjhl] – Nashville Predators [http://thn.com/nashville]), Ondřej Štěbeták (Portland, WHL). Defensemen: Tomáš Galvas (Liberec), Martin Švec (Pardubice), Pavel Průšek (Třinec), Jan Skok (Škoda Plzeň), Marek Chaloupka, Matyáš Man (both Vítkovice), Jakub Fibigr (Brampton, OHL [http://thn.com/ohl] – Seattle Kraken [http://thn.com/seattle]), Max Pšenička (Portland, WHL [http://thn.com/whl] – Utah Mammoth [http://thn.com/utah]), Vladimír Dravecký [https://thehockeynews.com/international/players/slovaks-react-to-vladimir-dravecky-jr-playing-for-czechia] (Rögle, SWE), Radim Mrtka (Seattle, WHL – Buffalo Sabres [http://thn.com/buffalo]). Forwards: Štěpán Hoch (České Budějovice – Utah Mammoth), Vojtěch Čihař [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/kings-2nd-round-draft-pick-contemplates-staying-in-czechia-or-moving-overseas] (Karlovy Vary – Los Angeles Kings [http://thn.com/losangeles]), Petr Sikora [https://thehockeynews.com/international/petr-sikora-its-a-charley-horse-i-got-hit-in-the-thigh-by-beaudoin] (Třinec – Washington Capitals [http://thn.com/washington]), Matěj Kubiesa (Třinec), Adam Novotný [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/czech-club-disappointed-by-adam-novotny-s-decision-to-go-to-ohl] (Peterborough, OHL), Oskar Lisler (Kladno), Adam Jecho (Edmonton, WHL – St. Louis Blues [http://thn.com/stlouis]), Ondřej Kos (Ilves Tampere, FIN – St. Louis Blues), Vít Záhejský (Kamloops, WHL), Tomáš Poletín (Pelicans Lahti, FIN – New York Islanders [http://thn.com/nyislanders]), Václav Nestrašil (Muskegon, USHL [http://thn.com/ushl] – Chicago Blackhawks [http://thn.com/chicago]), Richard Žemlička (SaiPa Lappeenranta, FIN), Jiří Klíma (Shawinigan, QMJHL), Adam Titlbach (Vancouver, WHL), Samuel Drančák (Red Deer, WHL). Team Staff: Manager: Otakar Černý. Head Coach: Patrik Augusta. Assistant Coaches: Robert Reichel, Pavel Trnka. Goaltending coach: Martin Láska. Photo by Martin Voltr. Kings 2nd-Round Draft Pick Contemplates Staying In Czechia Or Moving Overseas [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/7f48e888-b39e-4255-b393-610a5d40bc90.webp] Kings 2nd-Round Draft Pick Contemplates Staying In Czechia Or Moving Overseas Czech left winger Vojtěch Čihař, who turned 18 in March, was drafted in the second round, 59th overall, by the <a href="http://thn.com/losangeles">Los Angeles Kings</a> at this year’s NHL Entry Draft, which happened to be in Los Angeles. [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/kings-2nd-round-draft-pick-contemplates-staying-in-czechia-or-moving-overseas] Czech Petr Sikora: “It’s A Charley Horse – I Got Hit In The Thigh” By Beaudoin [https://images.saymedia-content.com/.image/MjExODYzMTU2NjMxMjgzMjM1/2024-10-16_tri-unia-101313-imag.jpg] Czech Petr Sikora: “It’s A Charley Horse – I Got Hit In The Thigh” By Beaudoin While Canadian hockey fans suffered through a near-existential crisis on Thursday during Canada’s 4-3 loss to Czechia in the IIHF World Junior Championship quarterfinals, one of the outlets for their anger and frustration – in addition to referees, coaches and Hockey Canada itself – was Czech center Petr Sikora. [https://thehockeynews.com/international/petr-sikora-its-a-charley-horse-i-got-hit-in-the-thigh-by-beaudoin] Czech Club Disappointed By Adam Novotný’s Decision To Go To OHL [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/98de0236-7208-4283-809f-f0c95152dc12.webp] Czech Club Disappointed By Adam Novotný’s Decision To Go To OHL Czech winger Adam Novotný, who turns 17 in November, is currently projected by most sources to be a top-15 pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. [https://thehockeynews.com/international/czech-club-disappointed-by-adam-novotny-s-decision-to-go-to-ohl] Slovaks react to Vladimír Dravecký Jr playing for Czechia [https://images.saymedia-content.com/.image/MjA3ODAzNDIyMDA5NzMwMzY4/usatsi_22394749.jpg] Slovaks react to Vladimír Dravecký Jr playing for Czechia When <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/czechs-name-hlinka-gretzky-cup-roster">Czechia announced its 24-man roster for this summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup</a> on Thursday, the player that received the most attention was 16-year-old Vladimír Dravecký Jr – a dual Czech-American citizen with Slovak parents who will be eligible for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. [https://thehockeynews.com/international/players/slovaks-react-to-vladimir-dravecky-jr-playing-for-czechia]
