WJC: 2026 Czech World Junior team

[Czechboy]

We have 9 guys returning next year. Not one one of them sucks. In fact, the 3 D that got the most minutes in the semi-final (Jiricek, Fibigr and Galvas) are all back.

Toss in Benak.
Toss in Mrtka.

There is a Top 6 and a Top 4 D with a starting goalie in Milota (Strebatak as the backup)

Curran would be another I'd love to see on here. In the USHL, Benak is going to the all star game with Nestrasil. Might be time to give him a look. Pekar, Titlbach in the Petr/Zidlicky role. Katolicky time? Who am I missing? Who am I way off on?

It's a damn good start! I think that will be our strongest team in the 2000s if it all works out.

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[Pavel Buchnevich]

Cihar-Jecho-Benak
Kos-Sikora-Novotny
Katolicky-Curran-Tittlbach
Polletin-Zahesky-Kubiesa
Novak

Galvas-Jiricek
Fibigr-Mrtka
Skok-Dravecky
Mikel

Milota
Stebetak
Someone help me out with a third goaltender?

I think that's another medal contender.

I think you're pretty close with that lineup. But I would probably change two players from the attack. I've always liked Pavlík and I hope that Pekař will play in a little better form next year. I would change those two players for Titlbach and Kubiesa

 

[Czechboy]

 

[Czechboy]

Stancl did quite well for himself to be honest. Higher goals per game than Kulich.

 

[Czechboy]

I think we are all seeing similar lineups.

 

[Goodman68]

I think we are all seeing similar lineups.

Probably not everyone

I see Katolicky in the lineup instead of Kubiesa or Heš. But otherwise it's a very similar lineup.

 

[Czechboy]

 

[Svedu]

We have 9 guys returning next year. Not one one of them sucks. In fact, the 3 D that got the most minutes in the semi-final (Jiricek, Fibigr and Galvas) are all back.

Toss in Benak.
Toss in Mrtka.

There is a Top 6 and a Top 4 D with a starting goalie in Milota (Strebatak as the backup)

Curran would be another I'd love to see on here. In the USHL, Benak is going to the all star game with Nestrasil. Might be time to give him a look. Pekar, Titlbach in the Petr/Zidlicky role. Katolicky time? Who am I missing? Who am I way off on?

It's a damn good start! I think that will be our strongest team in the 2000s if it all works out.

Indeed!

My predictions if everyone keeps on developing and stays healthy are:
Biggest favorites: Canada & Czechia. You guys will have elite talent and always come hungry and humble. Canada will be hungrier than ever. McKenna one year older together with a new staff? Also probably picking their best talents this time around after that shitshow. Have a feeling they will come guns blazing for every game because two years in a row without a semi is extraordinary for them.
If Finland aren't in the final I hope to see these two countries battling with a Czech victory.

Jiricek, Galvas, Jecho, Mrtka, Benak and Sikora will be huge me thinks. Novotny, Fibigr, Katolicky, Poletin, Petr, Zidlicky, Titlbach, Milota, Cihar, Kos, Curran won't be that much worse. Shit, that's not only elite talent, it's hella deep.

Second: USA. I mean Hutson can create offense on his own. Question is if Hagens and him are too talented? And play in the NHL next year already? I mean they are still up there with those other two but I mean it would be something exceptional to win three years in a row in Minnesota. For me these three nations will be a tier above those under.

Third: Finland. Just like the Czechs, having lots of players who can return. Not the same elite talent as the Czechs but the D's could actually be low-key good. With four of them returning and Soini was actually good and top3 in this years tournament for me. But injured, sick or something and didn't play so much. I can't see Rimpinen play as good next year. Neither Saros or Vasi had two such performances. Hard to maintain that but we can always hope.
We are clearly underdogs and not on the same level as those above and will miss a couple of important players born 2005 next year. Kumpulainen was pretty good and we will lose some size with him and Halttunen and so on. But I still do think we should and actually could be better than Sweden again. Hot take lol.

4th: Sweden. Eklund returns and will be a star in next years tournament. But they won't have a better roster than this year on paper. This years team was already older than the Czechs and Finns. At the same time, there is that psychology aspect. They should be hungry for revenge.
But even if 98% consider Sweden better on papper than say Finland... I don't think as much of those upcoming D's like those who played this year. Everything can happen we are speaking about youth development of course. But for me Sahlin Wallenius and Freij aren't on the same level as their top3 this year. And even if Eklund is a star and scores for Djurgården... He was brilliant in this years tournament but I felt that he moved a bit too much around the net and in the corners instead of going in directly. Funny parallel is that this is what Helenius struggles with, perhaps not circling around as much but he lacks killer instincts or has shown to do that so far during the WJC's. While a unknown Alasiurua and a fourth line player had exactly that in him which made him very appreciated in the Finnish cabins. He checked hard and went straight to the net. Frondell will be exciting next year but question if he's that much better than say... Miettinen or Helenius. Perhaps more spectacular or something but as Finns hav showed, that doesn't necessarily win games.

5th / with the potential to go to the semifinals: Latvia. Perhaps Germany and the Swiss have more depth? But to see Osmanis once more. The possibility of seeing Murnieks two times more. If they have the same coach as this year they could perform better than ever.
9 forwards can return for them. 4 of them are born 08, insane. 5 D's will return. That's 14 players. They also have one drafted goalie next year. Have a feeling Vecvanags, Maurins or Capars can replace Feldbergs.

Slovakia will be weaker for a second year is my belief. Pobezal is good but no Dvorsky. Little brother Nemec probably decent but no Pekarcik. Straka, Chovan etc give them a decent top6 but nothing special. I'm excited to see Svrcek next though.

 

[Svedu]

No, I'm calling it already. You guys will gold in a final against Canada or Finland.

 

[kudla]

Yes. Gold time for Czechia

 

[Czechboy]

it's hella deep

That will be the strength. No real weakness for the U20 level. However, no gamebreaking elite talent either. Similar to this year, even line 4 will have some talent. Our D 'should' be better if the top 4 show up. It could be argued our Top 3 D were 18 and are returning next year at 19 year olds. Toss in a Mrtka and 2 more defensively/boring type D and we're good to go! In theory we could have 2 D pairs with a first rounder each. Jiricek on top with undrafted Galvas. Mrtka (who I think is going around 15) with the solid Fibigr. And I really like Milota.

Having said that... I don't think we are a gold candidate. I do think it is reasonable to expect a 4th medal in a row but this tournament is hard and has lots of upsets. our crossover may be brutal unless US changes up the pools a little because I think US/Canada/Sweden are all in the other pool. So if you don't finish first in our pool, you get one of them!

 

[Svedu]

That will be the strength. No real weakness for the U20 level. However, no gamebreaking elite talent either. Similar to this year, even line 4 will have some talent. Our D 'should' be better if the top 4 show up. It could be argued our Top 3 D were 18 and are returning next year at 19 year olds. Toss in a Mrtka and 2 more defensively/boring type D and we're good to go! In theory we could have 2 D pairs with a first rounder each. Jiricek on top with undrafted Galvas. Mrtka (who I think is going around 15) with the solid Fibigr. And I really like Milota.

Having said that... I don't think we are a gold candidate. I do think it is reasonable to expect a 4th medal in a row but this tournament is hard and has lots of upsets. our crossover may be brutal unless US changes up the pools a little because I think US/Canada/Sweden are all in the other pool. So if you don't finish first in our pool, you get one of them!

Let's see if Mrtka or Jiricek can become as good and make such a impact as Hutson next year. But I actually could see them have that gamebreaking talent nonetheless. Galvas too. I think you will have the deepest D-core with those 3 and Fibigr making it exceptionally solid top4. Those D's will probably be able to both defend but also hold the puck and create. A bit like Finnish and Swedish D's combined lol. And like we stated before, all four lines will be able to score against anyone. So the depth there will be deeper than both Sweden and Finland.
Let's hope Jiricek can stay healthy now.

Czechboy with the classic anti-jinx I feel you.

Regarding the groups, agreed. For Finland it will be even more important to win the group. But I'm sure you guys would beat Sweden and I do believe you will have the ability to make the US anxious on home soil. But I wouldn't want to play Canada early next year and actually have a feeling that the Czechs could be the only team with the ability to beat them. A bit like Finland was the only team who stood up well twice against the US this year. Sometimes it matchups.
Also, I don't think the US will be as strong next year and they will feel the pressure. And last but not least, Finland scored 7 against them in 2 games. They were better in the end and we looked gassed. But in the group stage and also in the first period during the final I saw some clear weaknesses. Those players like Hutson who are really good offensively tend to leave som really vulnerable gaps as well. If they will face a deep team next year who can face the US with a solid team play and counter in a effective way, they will also be able to beat them. People tend to forget or miss the fact that Finland missed lot of opportunities in the first period and Augustine made an important save as well. Kiiskinen missed plenty of chances If I remember correctly. Finland could've and should've scored 3 in the first period and there were also possibilities to score 4 even.
Thing is, The US play an entertaining game but they do take quite the risk while doing so. It's not like the Finnish senior team with Jalonen looking secure all over the ice, quite the opposite. And this year they also had those important fourth liners unlike some years.

 

[Czechboy]

wouldn't want to play Canada early next year

No shit.. if I see them as our quarter final opponent again I will shit my pants.lol That's enough of that draw.haha Someone else can play them next time.haha