Team Czechia was considered the dark horse before the last tournament and they met expectations with a shocking win against Canada in the first game, clinching 1st place in Group A, or making their way to the finals where they lost to Canada in overtime. Overall, it was a very respectable performance by the Czechs, and now they hope for a similar result.
Czechia lost several key players from last year, including defensemen David Jiříček, Stanislav Svozil and David Špaček, goalie Tomáš Suchánek, and forwards Gabriel Szturc and Jakub Brabenec. However, they have brought six returnees to this year's tournament, including top forwards Jiří Kulich, Eduard Šalé and Matyáš Šapovaliv. The first two mentioned were both 1st round picks (#28 in the 2022 NHL Draft and #20 in 2023, respectively), while Šapovaliv was drafted in the second round.
Another second-rounder, Michael Hrabal (#38, 2023), will likely take on the starting goalie position. Hrabal played well at the last U18 World Junior Championships, and despite being an underager, he's the goalie Czechia will most likely rely on. Tomáš Suchánek was a key factor why the Czechs reached the finals last year, so Hrabal has big shoes to fill.
Czechia boasts a strong defense with two experienced returnees in Tomáš Hamara and Aleš Čech, along with two exciting prospects for the upcoming draft, Adam Jiříček and Tomáš Hamara. However, they are missing one of their top young blueliners. Defenseman Jakub Dvořák is definitely a notable omission. He´s not coming due to personal reasons, which is understandable.
The forward group is led by Jiří Kulich, who's excelling in the AHL at nineteen years old, Eduard Šalé and Matyáš Šapovaliv, along with other intriguing prospects such as Ondřej Becher, who's having a great year in the WHL. A strong tournament might propel him into the later rounds of the next draft as an overager.
Nevertheless, Czechia is sending a less experienced team compared to the previous one, but that doesn't make them any less ambitious. If Hrabal is in top form and Kulich can find the net the same way he does in the AHL, Czechia is capable of upsetting some favorites. The first game against Slovakia on Boxing Day will reveal a lot about the team and its potential. The Czechs play the next game on Dec 27 against Norway, followed by matches against Team USA on Dec 29 and Switzerland on Dec 31.
10 to Watch plus a Sleeper
Jiří Kulich, C
Kulich had a fantastic tournament last year with seven goals in seven games, and now he is going to be Czechia's prime offensive threat again. The Sabres prospect is having an awesome year in the AHL, leading the entire league in goals (16) as a 19-year-old. He has also made his NHL debut with the Sabres. Kulich has had a lot of success at the international level in past years, winning U18 World Juniors Championship MVP or helping Czechia to grab silver medals from the past World Juniors. He's going to be in the spotlight for sure, and it won't be surprising to see him on the All-Star Team again.
Eduard Šalé, RW
The Kraken prospect is not having an ideal season with the Barrie Colts in the OHL, and the Czechs definitely hope he's able to find his groove at the World Juniors. Šalé is not even a point-per-game player in his first season on North American ice, which comes off as a surprise, since he already has one full pro season under his belt in the Czech top-tier league. Šalé is an offensive winger, a solid playmaker with great hands who's also able to shoot the puck very well.. He was the youngest player on last year's silver medal squad yet put up a respectable six points (1+5) in seven games. Despite his struggles in the OHL, he should be one of Czechia's top forwards in all situations.
Michael Hrabal, G
Regarded as the best goaltending prospect in the 2023 NHL Draft by many, Hrabal was drafted by the Coyotes at #38 overall. He is set to become the Czech starter at the tournament, even though it's going to be the first World Juniors experience for the huge (6´6”) netminder. Hrabal is an athletic goalie who moves well in the crease, especially for his size. He takes away a lot of space in the net and is, in general, hard to beat. After earning a spot on the USHL All-Rookie Team in his first North American season, Hrabal went to college. He's the current No. 1 goalie for UMass at just 18 years of age.
Adam Jiříček, D
Czechia's true diamond on the blueline, Adam Jiříček, wasn't a lock to make this tournament, as he played no games in December after suffering a concussion at the end of a Czech top-tier league game. However, he's made a full recovery and is expected to be one of Czechia's leaders. The country's top prospect for the upcoming draft, Jiříček Jr., is a strong, two-way right-shot defenseman who plays well in his own zone yet doesn't hesitate to join the rush. He kind of lacks the wow factor his older brother David has, but he's still an intriguing prospect, one of the best draft-eligibles at the WJC. He sits at #19 on our board at McKeen's.
Matyáš Šapovaliv, C
The Golden Knights prospect is going to his third World Juniors , having already played fourteen games at the tournament. The 6´4” centreman is a skilled playmaker who controls the pace of the game and sends solid passes to his teammates. He plays a decent two-way game and should have a guaranteed spot on one of Czechia's top two lines. Šapovaliv is playing his third season in the OHL with the Saginaw Spirit, comfortably putting up over a point per game. He's had an active eight-game point streak before leaving for Sweden, so the tournament should find him in great form.
Tomáš Hamara, D
Hamara is one of the more experienced players on the Czech team, having played at two World Juniors tournaments already. He was part of the last year´s squad that won silver in Canada and had a solid role on the team as well. The Senators third-round pick (#87 in 2022) is a smart two-way defenseman with great vision and passing game. Moreover, he doesn´t lack in defensive ability, using his stick well and playing a well-rounded game. He´s not a dynamic talent or a highlight-reel machine, but he´s definitely able to help Czechia with his experience from previous tournaments, either with the U18 or U20 National Team.
Marek Alscher, D
Alscher's stats don't scream third-round pick, and he has never played at the World Juniors before, but he might end up as one of the most important Czech defensemen. He's a strong, big-bodied (6´3”) defenseman who plays a simple, defensively-oriented game. He enjoys the physical side of the game, likes to throw a hit, and excels at clearing the space in front of his net. Moreover, the Panthers prospect is also a gifted skater. He has spent the last three seasons in the WHL, which is a good fit for Alscher's playing style. All in all, a responsible defensive defenseman from whom you shouldn't expect much offense.
Ondřej Becher, C
Becher is an interesting case; he started the year extremely hot and led the WHL in points for a long time. Before the World Juniors, he was just outside the top ten with 45 points (16+29) in30 games. He missed the cut last year, but this time the Czech coaches couldn't afford not taking him to the World Juniors. Becher is having a terrific second year with the Prince George Cougars, and his production might earn him a spot in the later rounds of the 2024 NHL Draft as an overager. He has a lot of offensive skills, but the improvement of his defensive play and positioning should be appreciated as well.
Jakub Štancl, LW/RW
Štancl's offensive numbers won't excite you, but there is a lot to like about his game. He's a tall and strong (6´3”, 203 lbs) power forward who loves to drive the net and terrorize defensemen. Štancl was drafted in the 4th round (#106 overall) of the past NHL Draft by the St. Louis Blues. He's playing his third season with Växjö Lakers in the Swedish junior league, but he has earned some opportunities and call-ups to the A-team as well, having scored two goals in the top-tier league already. Štancl is valuable in either a top-six or a bottom-six role, and the Czechs should benefit from having such a player in the lineup. He's going to play in his first World Juniors.
Aleš Čech, D
Čech has been part of last year's silver-winning squad, and even though he didn't get much playing time, he should see an increased role this time for sure. Overall, he's going to play in his third World Juniors. Čech is a defensive defenseman who doesn't contribute much in the offensive zone but plays well in his own zone. He's smart, physical, and plays hard. He's played most of the year in the country's top-tier league with BK Mladá Boleslav, but his ice time is all over the place, ranging from just 28 seconds to more than 18 minutes a game. On the other hand, he should be part of Czechia's top four and help the team with his U20 National Team experience.
Sleeper: Tomáš Galvas, D
Another 2024 draft-eligible player on the Czech roster, a strong World Juniors performance should boost Galvas's stock. The 17-year-old defenseman is now considered a second-round or a third-round prospect, but his potential ought to be higher. Galvas is a two-way defenseman who especially likes offensive plays; he loves to play with the puck on his stick and create opportunities for his teammates. He's a very smart player, but his lack of size (5´10”) and not that well-polished defence might push him to later rounds. It'll be interesting to watch him and the role he gets. It's not a sure bet, but he may end up as one of the most important players for Team Czechia and surprise everyone.