Draft Update: Czech Republic Review
Won the bronze medal despite struggling in the group stage, only winning against Norway (tied Russia, Slovakia and Finland consecutively) .. scored the game-tying goal against Finland with 40 seconds remaining in regulation, which earned them the medal-round birth .. the trio of Schwarz-Smid-Sindel largely carried the Czechs for the duration of the tournament.
Key Player notes:
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Named top goalie in Minsk .. elite instincts and quickness .. excellent quickness and balance is at a good level .. mixes a classic Czech Hasek style where all of his limbs at times go to different directions, but will flash the butterfly at times as well .. very calm; reads the game especially well and will stand up when required, unless some netminders who always go down .. only let in nine goals in seven games .. a shaky u-20 tournament is forgotten; should go first among goalies in the NHL draft.
U18 WC Totals (GP7, 3-1-3, 1.29, 1 SO, .939
Showed the ability to make hard, acurate hits .. very skilled defensively; positionally sound and follows the movement of the puck instinctively well .. an excellent passer and a key participant in the Czech transition game due to his long and accurate feeds towards the offensive blue line .. took more chances than at the u-20's, where he stayed back and hesitated too much .. a strong puck carrier .. only significant weakness is his shot, which he had trouble getting through traffic at times.
U18 WC Totals (5-0-2-2-0 +1)
Jakub Sindel, C
National team captain .. respected among his peers .. speaks English very well .. amazing when on top of the his game, but never settled into a groove in the tournament, which has been the story of his year so far .. tried to be too creative in all situations; dipsy-doodled when he would have been better served to make a simple play .. puts too much pressure on himself; will have to control his nerves a bit better and let the puck come to him .. extremely good vision of the ice, combined with speed, smooth stickhandling abilities with a hard and accurate shot to boot .. took care of his defensive duties well at the tournament, but remains fairly slight.
U18 WC Totals (7-3-3-6-6 +6)
David Krejci, C
Major surprise, although we have been impressed with him all year .. turned on the jets in the medal round and anchored the team .. an excellent stickhandler .. has a great sense of the game; above-average vision and makes room for himself very well .. knows how to position himself on the ice, making himself available for feeds.
U18 WC Totals (7-3-4-7-0 +7)
Michal Birner, RW
Offensively savvy like his teammate Krejci .. always finds open ice .. has a heavy and accurate slapshot and a snappy writer .. moves very well with the puck and always creates at top speed .. a strong, fluid skater.
U18 WC Totals (7-3-2-5-8 +6)
Roman Psurny, RW
Played alongside twin brother Michal .. plays with intensity; utilizes his skating well to get to pucks .. will battle for pucks in the corners and dig for them with authority .. likes to crash the net frequently .. defensive game isn’t polished; chases the puck too much and struggles positionally.
U18 WC Totals (7-2-3-5-16 -1)