Can Czechia win their third straight medal, or knock of Canada or USA? Here's a preview of their roster for the 2024 IIHF women's World Championships.
Can Czechia win their third straight medal, or knock of Canada or USA? Here's a preview of their roster for the 2024 IIHF women's World Championships.
Czechia's 2024 World Championship roster has a major task ahead - winning the nation's third straight, and third ever medal at the event. They return with a strong lineup, bolstered by PWHL experience among several, but the field itself is stronger this year as well. Here's a look at Czechia's roster ahead of the 2024 IIHF women's World Championships in Utica, New York.
The PWHL Influence In Czechia
If there's a nation outside North America that has bought into the idea of sending their players to find the best competition, it's Czechia. Last year the nation benefitted significantly from players competing in the PHF. This year, that impact will increase another level with the PWHL influence of Tereza Vanisova, Katerina Mrazova, and Aneta Tejralova (Ottawa), along with Minnesota's Denisa Krizova. It's a trend that's expected to grow again this coming season as Daniela Pejsova, Klara Peslarova, Klara Hymlarova, and Noemni Neubauerova are all expected to declare for the draft.
Laskova's Loss On The Blueline
This is no small loss on Czechia's blueline, with Dominika Laskova's injury keeping her from the World Championships. Team defense has always been a strength of Czechia's, but Laskova's loss takes what was already Czechia's weak point in this tournament, and adds salt to the wound. It will be interesting to see if head coach Carla MacLeod gives Klara Hymlarova a look on the back end. Much like Laskova, she's spent significant time in her career playing forward, but this year also spent time on the blueline for St. Cloud State in the NCAA when needed. Her versatility could be a saviour for Czechia. Czechia's top two for the coming World Championship will be Tejralova and Lulea blueliner Daniela Pejsova. They'll get added support from ECAC All-Rookie team member Andrea Trnková who had a breakout season with RPI in the NCAA, showing she has immense upside and could quickly join Czechia's top four. The final member of Czechia's top four will be 21-year-old Brynas blueliner Sara Cajanova, who continues to improve and looks like she is on a path to be a long-term impact player internationally, and perhaps in the PWHL. Czechia will certainly minimize and protect starts from their third pairing.
Who will step up offensively?
It's always the question with Czechia, there's good team defense, but who will score. Katerina Mrazova, Tereza Vanisova, and Denisa Krizova certainly provide the firepower for Czechia, but they'll need to find secondary scoring. The best hope is teenager Adela Sapovalivova who was good for Czechia in a top six role last year, but has been a burgeoning star in Sweden this year. She's one of the most skilled players out there. Beyond Sapovalivova, Natalie Mlynkova added more offense to her game in the NCAA this season with Vermont being named the Hockey East Player of the Year. Rounding out Czechia's top six is Michaela Pejzlova, who has been one of Czechia's most electric players internationally, but must soon leave Finland's Naisten Liiga if she hopes to maintain her place among the world's best players. The competition there is simply too weak. Czechia still lacks a game breaker, which they could solve if the nation could patch relations with Kristyna Kaltounkova, a divide inherited by MacLeod from long before her arrival. Soon however, the only career hurt by Kaltounkova's absence from Team Czechia, will be her own.
Peslarova is back in net
Klara Peslarova is back in net for Czechia this time around, set to reclaim her spot as one of the world's best goaltenders. She's been named the U-18 World Championship top goaltender, World Championship D1A top goalie (twice), an Olympic All-Star and World Championship All-Star, along with SDHL Goaltender of the Year. It's a storied resume for Czechia's starter for the last decade, who helped her team climb from Division 1A, to their first ever bronze medal in 2022. She had surgery last year, and some questioned her readiness this year, but Peslarova's numbers, a 1.76 GAA and .935 save percentage say otherwise. If she does falter, Blanka Skodova carried the load admirably last year showing she's capable of winning a medal with her team.
Meet The Newcomers
The biggest name to watch as a newcomer this season is the next in Czechia's continued wave of talented young forwards. We've already seen the debuts of Sapovalivova, Tereza Pistekova and Tereza Plosova. This year they'll be joined by Boston University commit Anezka Cabelova who spent this season at RINK Academy in Kelowa, British Columbia. 21-year-old forward Anna Kalova will also make her debut.