All four WHLers played for Czechia at the IIHF U18 Men's World Championship
Four WHLers have picked up Bronze Medals at the IIHF U18 Men's World Championship. All four were part of Team Czechia, who defeated Latvia 4-1 in the Bronze Medal Game. Sweden picked up Gold at the tournament, while Slovakia won silver.
In net for the Bronze Medal game was Seattle Thunderbirds goaltender Marek Sklenicka. The 17-year-old stopped 21 of 22 shots he faced en route to a victory. Sklenicka played three games during the tournament and posted a save percentage of .921.
Leading the blue line was Tri-City Americans defenceman, Jakub Vanecek. The 18-year-old stepped up in a big way with five points in seven games. Vanecek is a prospect who continues to rise in the 2026 draft rankings and could be a first-round pick this year.
Also part of Czechia's defence was Red Deer Rebels' Jiří Kamas. The 18-year-old played in three games and recorded one assist. Kamas is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft and was ranked 134th among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
The final member of Team Czechia was Moose Jaw Warriors forward Jan Trefný. The 18-year-old played in six games, but did not register a point. Trefný had a successful rookie campaign in the WHL, posting 14 points in 60 games.
Jakub Vanecek of the Tri-City Americans (Photo Credit: John Keller/Tri City Americans/WHL)Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Hockey News