Czech Republic defeated Switzerland 5-1 – The Hockey Writers – World Junior Hockey Championship

On the first day of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, the Czech team and the Swiss team faced off. The Czech Republic will look to continue their momentum from last year's bronze medal win, while Switzerland will be looking to get off to a strong start in the tournament. At the end of the game, the Czech team defeated the Swiss team with a score of 5-1.

game review

In the first quarter, the Swiss team maintained a shooting advantage for more than five minutes before the game. Still, the Czechs capitalized on an offensive zone faceoff that ended with Galvas Tomas' shot being redirected forward by Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Miroslav Holinka. The rest of the time saw both teams attacking in their respective offensive zones. But both teams' net players stood firm in the penalty area, helping their respective teams maintain a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.

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After the Swiss failed to capitalize on a rollover advantage early in the second period, the Czechs took advantage of their man advantage. Seattle Kraken rookie Edward Sale received a pass from Holinka and scored. It didn’t take long for the Czech team to expand their lead. Just over a minute after Sale's goal, Ondrej Kos benefited from some smart puck movement at the top of the offensive zone, leading his way with the puck down the boards. As he prepared for a cross-ice pass, his attempt deflected off the Swiss defender's stick and over the shoulder of Ilya Neuenschwander, pushing the Czech lead to 3-0 midway through the game. Less than halfway through the game.

Michael Hrabal made a huge save on Rafael Meier to give his team a 3-0 lead heading into halftime. The Swiss seemed to gain momentum from a strong performance surrounding scoring chances but continued to be stymied by Hrabal. At the end of the second quarter, the Czech team led 3-0.

The first real scoring chance of the third period came early, with Switzerland's Jamiro Reber getting a breakaway shorthanded, but Hrabal once again kept the ball away. . The Czechs gained momentum after a failed power play, with Jakub Stankel scoring shortly after the end. Stankel's double-shot shot off Neuenschwander's skate extended the Czech lead to 4-0 less than five minutes into the game. Switzerland finally made it 4-1 midway through the third period when Endo Meier's power play found Leo Braillard. The Czechs sealed the victory 5-1 on Peter Sikora's empty-net goal.

Hrabal was busy in the win, stopping 25 of 26 shots. Neuenschwander stopped 30 of the 34 he faced in the loss. Both netminders earned player-of-the-match honors for their respective teams.

what's next

The Czech Republic will have a break until Saturday (December 28) when they face Kazakhstan. Switzerland will bounce back against Slovakia tomorrow.

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