Developing defence key to Czech Republic success

“We don’t have many chances to play team Canada, and to play such a team gives you a full package of skills on the ice. I like their physical hard playing style.”

The Czech Republic’s head coach Jiri Briza has revealed his team will be focusing on their defence at the upcoming 2015 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships A-Pool in Buffalo, New York, USA, from 26 April-3 May, aiming to retain their coveted slot in the group.

The team already knows how impressive their netminding, which features double Paralympian Michal Vapenka, is, but Briza insisted they are developing a more rounded defence.

“Michal Vapenka is still a good goalie for our team,” he said. But we’re working more on our defensive style as whole team.”

During the Czech Sledge Open in January this year, the team were undefeated and conceded only two goals. The tournament featured teams from Sweden, Russia and Norway, along with Czech Republic in a three day series. For his impressive performance Vapenka was the recipient of the Best Netminder award.

Now in his 40s, Vapenka has been playing on the national team for more than 10 years, and he is not yet showing any signs of slowing down. But even if he does, the team has Jan Matousek offering a strong backup option. An earlier Czech Sledge Open in December 2014 saw only a single conceded goal, this time with Matousek receiving the Best Netminder award against fellow A-Pool teams from South Korea, Italy and Germany.

One of their defenders, David Motycka, who was part of the team that competed in Sochi during the 2014 Winter Paralympics, has been training hard over the last few months and feels confident that he has made a big improvement to his on-ice skills.

“I am much faster and have more skills on my sledge, also my right hand shooting is much better,” he said.

He adds that of all of the teams in the A-Pool, he is looking forward to pitting his skills against Canada in particular.

“We don’t have many chances to play team Canada, and to play such a team gives you a full package of skills on the ice. I like their physical hard playing style.”

Briza has his sights set differently. He thinks that the hardest team to beat will be Norway: “Our first game in the tournament [will be the most difficult], which is the most important for the way to reach the semi-finals.”

The Czech Republic open their Buffalo 2015 campaign on 26 April, before playing Japan the following day and Canada on 29 April. The semi-finals take place on 1 May and the bronze and gold medal games on Sunday, 3 May.

The play-offs on 30 April will see two teams relegated to the B-Pool for 2016-17, hampering teams’ road to qualification for the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.