photo: Matt Zambonin/IIHF
Towering Czech goalie Michael Hrabal stole the show tonight in Ottawa, making a number of highlight-reel saves and helping his team to a solid 5-1 win over Switzerland on day one of the 2025 World Juniors.
The win was the fifth win in a row for Czechia over the Swiss, extending their streak to eight years and counting.
"It was a big three points, but that's why we're here," Hrabal said. "It's a great start for us, but now we have to keep going. There's always stuff to work on. With the smaller rink, there's not as much time to keep the puck on the stick, so maybe we can make passes a little faster, but overall our game was great tonight."
"I think we played pretty well in some parts of the game, but there are some things we need to clean up and do better," offered Swiss forward Jamiro Reber. "But I think we had some good chances to score. We have to make sure we get bodies in front of the net and put those pucks in. We have to win more battles, skate harder. I think the Czechs were a little faster and stronger today, so we have to learn from them today."
Hrabal, the 38th overall selection by Arizona at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, announced his form early in the game, making a fantastic left-pad save off a quick one-timer from Andro Kaderli. Moments later, the 1-0 goal was scored by the Czechs off a faceoff win the offensive end. Tomas Galvas’s quick point shot was tipped in front by Miroslav Holinka at 4:46, sending the Czechs on their way.
"I'm there to save the puck," Hrabal said of his big save in the early going. "It was a great beginning and we scored a goal soon after, so it helped a lot. We were moving in the right direction after that."
Later in the period Hrabal was at it again. Jamiro Reber made a beautiful pass out front to Lars Steiner, but Hrabal again got his body quickly into position to make the save.
The Czechs doubled their lead at 6:10 of the second with the extra man. Captain Eduard Sale finished off a nice passing play, smacking a quick shot along the ice before Elijah Neuenschwander could get across.
They made it 3-0 a minute and a half later on a lucky play. Ondrej Kos made a pass through the slot that went off the skate of Basile Sansonnens, then off the stick of Eric Schneller, and wobbled over the shoulder of Neuenschwander, who was playing the pass.
Hrabal kept his shutout through 40 minutes with another gem, this a diving paddle save off a sure goal from Rafael Meier late in the second. And early in the third, he stopped Reber on a short-handed breakaway through good positioning and his imposing size.
The Czechs added to their total at 4:31 on a clever play by Jakub Stancl. He drew Neuenschwander to the short side, went behind the net, and tucked the puck into the open side to make it 4-0.
The Swiss finally solved the Hrabal puzzle thanks to a great effort by Endo Meier. He brought the puck up ice while being hounded by two Czechs, then put a perfect pass to Leo Braillard alone in front. His quick shot caught Hrabal off guard, and it was a 4-1 game.
Petr Sikora added an empty netter at 17:31 to close out the scoring.
The win was the fifth win in a row for Czechia over the Swiss, extending their streak to eight years and counting.
"It was a big three points, but that's why we're here," Hrabal said. "It's a great start for us, but now we have to keep going. There's always stuff to work on. With the smaller rink, there's not as much time to keep the puck on the stick, so maybe we can make passes a little faster, but overall our game was great tonight."
"I think we played pretty well in some parts of the game, but there are some things we need to clean up and do better," offered Swiss forward Jamiro Reber. "But I think we had some good chances to score. We have to make sure we get bodies in front of the net and put those pucks in. We have to win more battles, skate harder. I think the Czechs were a little faster and stronger today, so we have to learn from them today."
Hrabal, the 38th overall selection by Arizona at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, announced his form early in the game, making a fantastic left-pad save off a quick one-timer from Andro Kaderli. Moments later, the 1-0 goal was scored by the Czechs off a faceoff win the offensive end. Tomas Galvas’s quick point shot was tipped in front by Miroslav Holinka at 4:46, sending the Czechs on their way.
"I'm there to save the puck," Hrabal said of his big save in the early going. "It was a great beginning and we scored a goal soon after, so it helped a lot. We were moving in the right direction after that."
Later in the period Hrabal was at it again. Jamiro Reber made a beautiful pass out front to Lars Steiner, but Hrabal again got his body quickly into position to make the save.
The Czechs doubled their lead at 6:10 of the second with the extra man. Captain Eduard Sale finished off a nice passing play, smacking a quick shot along the ice before Elijah Neuenschwander could get across.
They made it 3-0 a minute and a half later on a lucky play. Ondrej Kos made a pass through the slot that went off the skate of Basile Sansonnens, then off the stick of Eric Schneller, and wobbled over the shoulder of Neuenschwander, who was playing the pass.
Hrabal kept his shutout through 40 minutes with another gem, this a diving paddle save off a sure goal from Rafael Meier late in the second. And early in the third, he stopped Reber on a short-handed breakaway through good positioning and his imposing size.
The Czechs added to their total at 4:31 on a clever play by Jakub Stancl. He drew Neuenschwander to the short side, went behind the net, and tucked the puck into the open side to make it 4-0.
The Swiss finally solved the Hrabal puzzle thanks to a great effort by Endo Meier. He brought the puck up ice while being hounded by two Czechs, then put a perfect pass to Leo Braillard alone in front. His quick shot caught Hrabal off guard, and it was a 4-1 game.
Petr Sikora added an empty netter at 17:31 to close out the scoring.
Czechia vs Switzerland - 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship
OF