The underdogs understand the challenge they face in Thursday’s matchup.
Team Canada starts its journey in the men’s Olympic hockey on Thursday against Czechia, and even though Canada is expected to win easily, the Czechs intend to put up a good fight.
“They’re all excellent players, so this will really test us,” Czechia defenseman Radko Gudas, who plays for the Anaheim Ducks, shared after practice.
Going up against Canada’s star forwards, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Sidney Crosby, Czechia realizes it will face a tough challenge all game long. Besides those big names, Canada has a lot of talent, solid defensive play, and experience, which includes young star Macklin Celebrini and top defenseman Cale Makar.
“We need to work really hard throughout the whole game,” Gudas continued. “We have to ensure that we deny them time and space. This will probably be the toughest game of our lives, I think, for everyone. Maybe we can surprise them a bit due to the time zone difference. ”
Czechia’s goalie, Karel Vejmelka, shared similar thoughts, as reported by the Hockey News.
“They have a fantastic team, maybe one of the greatest ever, so it’s exciting to face them first,” said the Utah Mammoth goalie. “Crosby is a true legend. We are definitely looking forward to this. ”
For David Pastrnak from the Boston Bruins, he emphasized trust in his teammates.
“It will require a perfect game on our part. We will do our best. We feel good about our chances. We have a strong team. ”
After playing against the Czechs, Team Canada will look ahead to a game with Switzerland on Friday, but for Czechia, winning Thursday’s game is essential to set a positive tone for the tournament.
They know the stakes, and they’re ready to give the favorites a test right from puck drop.
Leave a Reply