Milota, Simek Named To Czech World Juniors Camp

Team Czechia has released its camp roster for the 2025 World Juniors, with two notable names for QMJHL fans.

The most notable of which is Cape Breton Eagles starting goaltender Jakub Milota. The 6-foot-1 netminder has a .908 save percentage across 22 games this season, fresh off of being picked up in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL entry draft by the Nashville Predators.

As Milota is only 18, it is expected that he'll play backup this go-around to 2023 second rounder Michael Hrabal (Utah), before having the opportunity to start for Czechia at next World Juniors.

Milota represented Czechia internationally a few times, most notably backstopping them to a silver medal at last year's Hlinka-Gretzky Cup.

Joining Milota is Rimouski's Pavel Simek. The left winger has 13 points (6+7) across 27 games with the Océanic this season after joining the team as the team's second round pick in the CHL import draft as a re-entry. He previously played two seasons with the Saint John Sea Dogs, putting up 38 points (18+20) across 68 games last season.

Simek previously played for the Czech team twice. At the 2023 Hlinka-Gretzky, he went point-less as the team failed to medal. He would then go onto don the lion crest at the World Under-18s, where he would notch two assists over five games, missing the podium again.