Czech Juniors Have Completed Camps and Preparatory Tournaments

The Czech representatives are sure to arrive in Poprad well-prepared, ready to once again battle it out in exciting matches for the most coveted medal.

The Czech junior team kicked off their 2024/2025 national team season with an initial training camp in Plzeň in December. A total of 33 ball hockey players participated in this first camp. The second training camp took place again in Plzeň in January 2025, with 30 players nominated.

After these two training camps, the team management (Jaromír Kotlík – head coach, Kristýna Mačátová – assistant coach, Jakub Hnátek – coach, goalie coach, Petr Bárta – team manager) narrowed the roster down to 21 players (2 goalkeepers and 19 skaters), who then played their first preparatory tournament, the Challenge Cup 2025 in Přelouč. This February tournament featured, besides the junior national team, two U14 boys’ national teams and a local team from Přelouč. The junior girls lost all three matches, with a total score of 2:10. Both goals were scored by Barbora Kaderová.

The next step in preparation for the World Championship was the Česká Třebová Cup 2025, with participation from five teams. The tournament was held at the ice rink in Česká Třebová and featured 23 players (3 goalkeepers and 20 skaters). The juniors faced two U14 boys’ national teams again, as well as two league teams, Letohrad and Svitavy. The juniors lost all four matches, with a total score of 2:13, with both goals scored by Michaela Krásová.

Both preparatory tournaments certainly highlighted weaker aspects of the team’s play, and there is no doubt that the Czech ball hockey players will address these shortcomings before the World Championship.

The bronze medalists from the last World Championship can now fine-tune their form for the highlight of the national team season – the World Championship.