The Czech hockey players flew to Ostersund for a preliminary tournament before the Ostrava 2019 WCH

The representative para hockey team (previously known as sledge hockey) flew to Sweden on Sunday, January 13, 2919. Ostersund is the traditional host of winter paralympic sports. Along with the hockey tournament, the World Cup in classic skiing for the handicapped is held there as well.

In addition to the Czechs, te Swedish domestic team and the Japanese team made their way to Ostersund. The initially announced team of China, which will be a home team for the Beijing Paralympics Winter Games in three years, canceled their participation last-minute, prompting tournament organizers and other teams to have unexpected problems with the tournament timetable and overall organization of the event. From the ethical point of view it is a very regrettable step from the Chinese team of no analogue in the world of para hockey.

The Czech team, under the leadership of Jiří Bříza, has been in full preparation for the upcoming World Championships since early December, which will take place between the end of April and beginning of May in Ostrava. The tournament in Sweden is one of the try-outs of the Czech team’s performance. After China relinquished their participation, the tournament will be played in such a way, that each team will face the opponent twice. Meaning that a very good preparatory tournament awaits the Czechs.

Composition of the Czech Republic Representative Team:
Goalkeepers – Vápenka, Kudela
Forwards: Hábl, Geier, Novotný, Krupička, Palát, Raul, Wagner
Defenders: Kubeš, Doležal, Hrbek, Kvoch

Source: www.caths.cz