The hockey team lost 2: 3 in the general round for the world championship at the Czech Games in Switzerland and did not take advantage of the opportunity to win the home tournament of the Euro Hockey Tour series for the third time in a row, although one point was enough for them.
Defender Michal Kempný opened the scoring soon after the opening goal. Striker Ondřej Beránek then collected a five-minute and late penalty, which Gaëtan Haas converted to equalize.
Romain Loeffel put Switzerland ahead in the second half, Smejkal leveled early in the last. Marco Miranda decided at 45:59. Defender David Jiříček withdrew from the game due to health problems.
At around 19.30, national team coach Kari Jalonen will announce the nominations for the world championships in Tampere and Riga which will start on Friday. The Czechs will enter the tournament with a duel with Slovakia.
Switzerland won the Brno tournament, the Czech team finished third behind Sweden.
Czech Hockey Match in Brno, Euro Hockey Tour tournament:
Czech Republic – Switzerland 2:3 (1:1, 0:1, 1:1)
Goals and assists: 1. Kempný (Smejkal, Chlapík), 41. Smejkal (Chlapík) – 7. Haas (Loeffel), 33. Loeffel (Corvi, Haas), 46. Miranda (Fora, Berni). Referees: Eriksson, Harnebring (both Sweden) – Lhotský, J. Svoboda. Exception: 1:5, in addition O. Beránek (CZ) 5 min. and until the end of the game. Usage: 1:2. Audience: 4787.
Czech Republic: Vejmelka – Jordán, J. Zbořil, D. Jiříček, Kempný, Knot, T. Dvořák, Jeřábek, Němeček – Chlapík, R. Horák, Smejkal – Kaut, M. Kovařčík, Lenc – Hyka, D. Voženílek, Flek – O. Beránek, Černoch, H. Zohorna. Coach: K. Jalonen.
Switzerland: Mayer – Fora, Moser, Loeffel, Marti, Glauser, Geisser, Berni – Riat, Corvi, Ambühl – Künzle, Haas, Herzog – Simion, Senteler, Miranda – Ch. Bertschy, Richard, Thürkauf – Moy. Trainer: Fisher.
Tournament final table:
| 1. | Switzerland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5:6 | 6 |
| 2. | Sweden | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10:7 | 5 |
| 3. | Czech | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8:9 | 4 |
| 4. | Finland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7:8 | 3 |
Final EHT table:
| 1. | Sweden | 12 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 35:22 | 24 |
| 2. | Czech | 12 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 26:33 | 18 |
| 3. | Finland | 12 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 37:34 | 16 |
| 4. | Switzerland | 12 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 11:32 p.m | 14 |
“Certified bacon geek. Evil social media fanatic. Music practitioner. Communicator.”
