Czechia goalkeeper Tomas Suchanek makes a save in the game against Canada.
photo: Matt Zambonin / IIHF
It’s official! Goalkeeper Tomas Suchanek has set several records with his two assists from the blue ice last night against Austria. Although several goalies have recorded an assist in a game, and four have had two assists in a tournament, Suchanek is the first U20 goalie to have two in one game.
He also earned an assist in the team’s first game, a 5-2 win over Canada, meaning he broke two other records as well – most assists by a goalie in one tournament (three, and counting), and most career assists in U20 play (three, and counting).
He also earned an assist in the team’s first game, a 5-2 win over Canada, meaning he broke two other records as well – most assists by a goalie in one tournament (three, and counting), and most career assists in U20 play (three, and counting).
In fact, the only other goalie in IIHF competition – male or female, any tournament – to record two assists in a game was Rick DiPietro of the United States in a 6-0 win over Ukraine in the relegation round of the Men’s U18 in Kaufbeuren, 19 April 1999. (Although DiPietro went one better by getting both his assists in the second period.)
Incredibly, Suchanek is currently tied for 10th in tournament scoring, his three points only two behind teammate and leader Stanislav Svozil.
And there’s more. Suchanek is now the only goalie at any top-level tournament, male or female, to have three assists in one event. Indeed, the only three goalies to have three career assists in any one event are Florence Schelling (Switzerland, three assists in Women’s World Championship play), Tomas Vokoun (Czechia, three assists in World Championship play), and Lars Haugen (Norway, three assists, also in WM).
Suchanek was credited with a helper on the first Czechia goal last night after making a save and kicking the puck out. Svozil collected the rebound and skated out of his zone, dishing off to Jakub Brabenec in centre ice. Brabenec cut in on goal and scored.
Suchanek earned his second helper of the night late in the second period on Gabriel Szturc’s goal that made it 7-0. Once again he made a save, this time batting the puck away. Jaroslav Chmelar collected it and fed Szturc on an odd-man rush, which he converted.
Suchanek was a little more active on his first assist of the tournament, against Canada. On that play, he cleared the puck behind his goal and around the boards to Jakub Kos, who passed ahead to Matous Mensik. Mensik beat Canadian goalie Benjamin Gaudreau with a bad-angle shot.
Previously four goalies had two career assists at the World Juniors. USA’s John Gibson had two in 2013; Latvia’s Janis Kalnins two in 2010; Sweden’s Henrik Lundqvist had one in 2001 and another in 2002; and, Finland’s Joni Ortio had two in 2010.
In other tournaments, several goalies have had two assists in one event, but never in one game, with the lone exception of DiPietro.
For more record, get the IIHF Guide & Record Book. The new edition is available for shipment in North America and soon in the rest of the world.
Incredibly, Suchanek is currently tied for 10th in tournament scoring, his three points only two behind teammate and leader Stanislav Svozil.
And there’s more. Suchanek is now the only goalie at any top-level tournament, male or female, to have three assists in one event. Indeed, the only three goalies to have three career assists in any one event are Florence Schelling (Switzerland, three assists in Women’s World Championship play), Tomas Vokoun (Czechia, three assists in World Championship play), and Lars Haugen (Norway, three assists, also in WM).
Suchanek was credited with a helper on the first Czechia goal last night after making a save and kicking the puck out. Svozil collected the rebound and skated out of his zone, dishing off to Jakub Brabenec in centre ice. Brabenec cut in on goal and scored.
Suchanek earned his second helper of the night late in the second period on Gabriel Szturc’s goal that made it 7-0. Once again he made a save, this time batting the puck away. Jaroslav Chmelar collected it and fed Szturc on an odd-man rush, which he converted.
Suchanek was a little more active on his first assist of the tournament, against Canada. On that play, he cleared the puck behind his goal and around the boards to Jakub Kos, who passed ahead to Matous Mensik. Mensik beat Canadian goalie Benjamin Gaudreau with a bad-angle shot.
Previously four goalies had two career assists at the World Juniors. USA’s John Gibson had two in 2013; Latvia’s Janis Kalnins two in 2010; Sweden’s Henrik Lundqvist had one in 2001 and another in 2002; and, Finland’s Joni Ortio had two in 2010.
In other tournaments, several goalies have had two assists in one event, but never in one game, with the lone exception of DiPietro.
For more record, get the IIHF Guide & Record Book. The new edition is available for shipment in North America and soon in the rest of the world.