Martin Necas, who suited up at the last three World Juniors, hopes the Czech Republic can medal on home ice in 2020.
photo: Minas Panagiotakis / HHOF-IIHF Images
Czech forward Martin Necas doesn’t hesitate when asked which of his three IIHF World Junior Championship experiences was his favourite.
“The one in Buffalo when we made it to the semi-finals,” said the 20-year-old Carolina Hurricane, now in his first full NHL season. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get a medal or anything else. But it was a good run. It’s a huge tournament. Out of my three times there, it was twice in Canada [2017, 2019] and once in the U.S. [2018]. People are coming to the games and it’s really popular here.”
“The one in Buffalo when we made it to the semi-finals,” said the 20-year-old Carolina Hurricane, now in his first full NHL season. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get a medal or anything else. But it was a good run. It’s a huge tournament. Out of my three times there, it was twice in Canada [2017, 2019] and once in the U.S. [2018]. People are coming to the games and it’s really popular here.”
It’s the best tournament you can play as a junior.
Necas got a nice acknowledgement of his skill and leadership when he was chosen to captain coach Vaclav Varada’s 2019 World Junior team in Vancouver and Victoria. Unfortunately, a 3-1 quarter-final loss to the talented Americans left the Czech Republic in seventh place, its worst finish since 2011.
However, this slick playmaker from Nove Mesto na Morave has plenty of other winning memories to feed off.
In last season’s AHL playoffs, Necas had five goals and eight assists as the Charlotte Checkers captured their first Calder Cup. And in 2018, he scored the winning goal as Kometa Brno defeated Ocelari Trinec for its second consecutive Czech Extraliga championship. During that run, Brno also swept Vitkovice Ostrava in the second round.
So Necas certainly knows his way around the 2020 World Junior arenas, Ostravar Arena (Ostrava) and Werk Arena (Trinec).
“I’m pretty sure there are going to be a lot of fans. People are excited for the hockey there. It’s been a long time since we last hosted the World Juniors [2008]. It’s going to be great, especially for the Czech guys. I wish I could play there too!”
However, this slick playmaker from Nove Mesto na Morave has plenty of other winning memories to feed off.
In last season’s AHL playoffs, Necas had five goals and eight assists as the Charlotte Checkers captured their first Calder Cup. And in 2018, he scored the winning goal as Kometa Brno defeated Ocelari Trinec for its second consecutive Czech Extraliga championship. During that run, Brno also swept Vitkovice Ostrava in the second round.
So Necas certainly knows his way around the 2020 World Junior arenas, Ostravar Arena (Ostrava) and Werk Arena (Trinec).
“I’m pretty sure there are going to be a lot of fans. People are excited for the hockey there. It’s been a long time since we last hosted the World Juniors [2008]. It’s going to be great, especially for the Czech guys. I wish I could play there too!”
Having aged out, his priority is making progress as an NHLer. He suited up for seven Canes games last season, including his first NHL goal in a 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay on 18 October 2018. This year, Necas is fitting in nicely on Carolina’s third line, playing recently with Lucas Wallmark and Ryan Dzingel, and seeing power play duty under head coach Rod Brind’Amour. In 33 games he’s had 8 goals and 13 assists.
That doesn’t mean the 188-cm, 86-kg would want to challenge Brind’Amour to a power lifting contest. The 48-year-old coach, who helped Canada win its first World Championship in 33 years in 1994 and Carolina earn its only Stanley Cup in 2006, has kept up his legendary strength and fitness even in retirement.
“It’s unbelievable how he still works out,” Necas said. “It’s almost crazy. Every time you see him in the gym, you’re like, yeah, I’ve got to do the same, because you cannot let your coach be in better shape than you are! It’s great. He was a great player and he’s a great coach.”
For his rookie season, Necas is focused on seeing the Hurricanes take the next step after getting swept by the Boston Bruins in last year’s Eastern Conference final. Whether he overtakes the likes of Buffalo’s Victor Olofsson or Colorado’s Cale Makar in the rookie scoring race or the minds of Calder Memorial Trophy voters is secondary.
“It’s fine so far,” Necas said. “It’s always about the team, not about yourself personally. I’m trying to battle and always get more trust from the coach. Then you can make some better plays. So far, I feel pretty good. And I feel I’m going to be better and better.”
Drafted 12th overall in 2017 by Carolina, he’s always been known for his pass-first mentality. That differentiates him from David Pastrnak, easily the most dangerous Czech NHL sniper today. The 23-year-old winger, who plays on Boston’s top line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, has a real shot at ending Alexander Ovechkin’s current two-year reign as the league goal-scoring champion.
Necas, who played on the 2018 World Championship team in Denmark with Pastrnak, is unabashedly impressed: “Pasta is a really skilled player! He’s great offensively. He’s got a great shot and great hockey IQ. Their line is buzzing all the time. I haven’t played against them yet, but I can tell it’s pretty hard to play against them.”
There’s no one as offensively gifted as Pastrnak on the 2020 Czech World Junior squad. Nor is this team likely to outscore the 2018 fourth-place team featuring Necas, Filip Zadina, and Filip Chytil. So if the host Czechs are to author a Cinderella story and return to the medal podium for the first time since 2005’s bronze, goalie Lukas Dostal will have to come up huge.
The 19-year-old Anaheim Ducks prospect, who has dazzled as Ilves Tampere’s first-year starter, proved his mettle in Vancouver and Victoria. Dostal posted a 1.25 GAA and 95.7 save percentage. Against the U.S. in the quarter-final, he made 38 saves and kept it a one-goal game until Sasha Chmelevski’s empty-netter in the final minute.
Necas has faith in Dostal, his long-time teammate in the Brno system: “I know him really well. I played with him on the Czech team all the time in juniors. He’s a great goalie, great kid. I know he’s doing really well this year in the Finnish league. Hopefully I’m going to play against him over here in maybe a couple of years.”
None of the current Czech U20 players can even remember when their nation won its last two gold medals in 2000 and 2001 under coach Jaroslav Holik. They have a huge challenge ahead, starting with the 26 December opener against Russia in Ostrava. What advice would Necas give to his fellow countrymen who are making their World Junior debut?
“Just enjoy it. Work hard. Show how Czech hockey is getting better, getting back toward the top. You’ve just got to play your game. Don’t worry about anything else. It’s great that they’ve got it in the Czech Republic. It’s a dream for everybody to play in front of a Czech crowd at the World Juniors.”
That doesn’t mean the 188-cm, 86-kg would want to challenge Brind’Amour to a power lifting contest. The 48-year-old coach, who helped Canada win its first World Championship in 33 years in 1994 and Carolina earn its only Stanley Cup in 2006, has kept up his legendary strength and fitness even in retirement.
“It’s unbelievable how he still works out,” Necas said. “It’s almost crazy. Every time you see him in the gym, you’re like, yeah, I’ve got to do the same, because you cannot let your coach be in better shape than you are! It’s great. He was a great player and he’s a great coach.”
For his rookie season, Necas is focused on seeing the Hurricanes take the next step after getting swept by the Boston Bruins in last year’s Eastern Conference final. Whether he overtakes the likes of Buffalo’s Victor Olofsson or Colorado’s Cale Makar in the rookie scoring race or the minds of Calder Memorial Trophy voters is secondary.
“It’s fine so far,” Necas said. “It’s always about the team, not about yourself personally. I’m trying to battle and always get more trust from the coach. Then you can make some better plays. So far, I feel pretty good. And I feel I’m going to be better and better.”
Drafted 12th overall in 2017 by Carolina, he’s always been known for his pass-first mentality. That differentiates him from David Pastrnak, easily the most dangerous Czech NHL sniper today. The 23-year-old winger, who plays on Boston’s top line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, has a real shot at ending Alexander Ovechkin’s current two-year reign as the league goal-scoring champion.
Necas, who played on the 2018 World Championship team in Denmark with Pastrnak, is unabashedly impressed: “Pasta is a really skilled player! He’s great offensively. He’s got a great shot and great hockey IQ. Their line is buzzing all the time. I haven’t played against them yet, but I can tell it’s pretty hard to play against them.”
There’s no one as offensively gifted as Pastrnak on the 2020 Czech World Junior squad. Nor is this team likely to outscore the 2018 fourth-place team featuring Necas, Filip Zadina, and Filip Chytil. So if the host Czechs are to author a Cinderella story and return to the medal podium for the first time since 2005’s bronze, goalie Lukas Dostal will have to come up huge.
The 19-year-old Anaheim Ducks prospect, who has dazzled as Ilves Tampere’s first-year starter, proved his mettle in Vancouver and Victoria. Dostal posted a 1.25 GAA and 95.7 save percentage. Against the U.S. in the quarter-final, he made 38 saves and kept it a one-goal game until Sasha Chmelevski’s empty-netter in the final minute.
Necas has faith in Dostal, his long-time teammate in the Brno system: “I know him really well. I played with him on the Czech team all the time in juniors. He’s a great goalie, great kid. I know he’s doing really well this year in the Finnish league. Hopefully I’m going to play against him over here in maybe a couple of years.”
None of the current Czech U20 players can even remember when their nation won its last two gold medals in 2000 and 2001 under coach Jaroslav Holik. They have a huge challenge ahead, starting with the 26 December opener against Russia in Ostrava. What advice would Necas give to his fellow countrymen who are making their World Junior debut?
“Just enjoy it. Work hard. Show how Czech hockey is getting better, getting back toward the top. You’ve just got to play your game. Don’t worry about anything else. It’s great that they’ve got it in the Czech Republic. It’s a dream for everybody to play in front of a Czech crowd at the World Juniors.”