Prague 31.1.2024

At the nomination press conference before the Swedish Games, coach Radim Rulik spoke, changing the skeleton of the team significantly from previous events. Already next Thursday, the Czech national team will enter the next tournament, the Swedish Hockey Games starting against the home team.

The nomination spans the likes of the Kash brothers or the Thirties striker Martin Růžička, who returns to the team after six years. A litvinous goalkeeper, Shimon Zajíček, will make his debut.In his head, the coach is already shaping the make-up of the team for his home World Cup. At the same time, Radim Nightshade realizes that things can still change by May. “We want to have more options, try out different alternatives,” the hockey team coach said. That’s why he’s taking unheralded names to the Swedish games this season.

He based himself on a solid core, with 18 players playing in both previous tournaments.

However, he is taking twelve new faces to the Swedish Games who have yet to wear the representative jersey this season.

“We’ve chosen the way to look at other players. We have nine new strikers, two behinds, one goalkeeper. We have a picture of the skeleton team from the first two tournaments, but we also have to have other variations because the end of the season means more injuries as well,” Said Nightshade, explaining the team’s composition at the Swedish Games.

Nightshade finally got his wish and was able to nominate both brothers to Kash. “Andrew should have been on the team twice, but only now is he 100% healthy for the first time, so there was nothing to stop the nomination,” he said. Like Bunny, Ondřej Kaše’s senior representative premiere awaits.

100% preparedness for all options is key. “You might say I have an idea of a core. But it can’t always be fulfilled, it will be due to circumstances,” said Nightshade.He doesn’t feel nervous despite the approaching nail of the season. “It’s a pleasure to coach the national team,” he stated unequivocally.

JK