Česky English

 

The couple of games against the Japanese national team was in fact a rematch of the same event that took place in Litoměřice last year. Team Czech Republic had to do their best missing some of the top players who, however, will not miss the World Championships itself.

In the first game, Japan took advantage of an early lead that came after a breakaway goal seven minutes into the first period. Team Czech Republic tried hard to turn the game around and even outshot Japan in both the second and third periods, but failed to create any bigger chances. The visiting team scored a powerplay goal late in the second to make it 2-0 and then added another goal in the third. 3-0 was the final score.

Game two started just as bad for the Czechs as the first did as Team Japan once again took advantage of a breakaway to open the scoring. The home team, however, played better than in the previous game and put together their best effort of the event in the second period. Nonetheless, they failed to convert their speed and big chances into a tying goal.

Japan, on the other side, managed to score a lucky second goal and it also looked like the Czechs would not be able to score at all. Ten minutes before the end of regulation, Simona Studentová tipped in a shot to cut the lead in half, finally putting the Czechs on the board. Seeing a chance to score a late equalizer, Team Czech Republic worked hard and even pulled the goalie, Japan held on to the 2-1 lead though.

In Třemošná, the top offensive line around team captain Alena Polanská, which was put together in November at a tournament in Japan, posed the greatest threat to the opposing defense. Also satisfying onlookers were the youngsters of the team who showed that they were ready to accept the responsibility and share it with their more experienced teammates. However, it became clear that without improving finishing, the team will not have much success.

The Women´s World Championship in Přerov takes place between April 6 and April 12 of 2014, but the Czech national team will start getting ready at a training camp starting March 24. The first week of training camp takes place in Přerov without Under-18 players who will be at that time at their World Championship in Hungary. Despite that, Team Slovakia will challenge them for a friendly game. On March 30, the camp will move to Liberec where it might go through a game against Norway. On April 3, the team is moving back to Přerov with the first official WWC practice held on April 5.

Game one: Czech Republic – Japan 0:3 (0:1, 0:1, 0:1)

Goals and assists: 7. Kubo, 38. Yamane (Koike), 53. Koike (Adachi). Referees and linesmen: Nelibová – Dvořáková, Malá. Penalties: 3:4. PP goals: 0:1. Attendance: 103. Shots on goal: 30:21. Game progress: 0:3.

Team Czech Republic lineup: Bečevová – Kolowratová, Horálková, Flachsová, Lásková, Hudečková, Výtisková, Pelikánová – Holešová, Polenská, Studentová – Kaplanová, Přibylová, Manhartová – Lédlová, Bukolská, Chmelová – Nárožná, Vopravilová, Topolská.

Game two: Czech Republic – Japan 1:2 (0:1, 0:0, 1:1)

Goals and assists: 50. Studentová (Polenská) – 14. Nakamura, 48. Yamane. Referees: Růžičková – Novotná, Svobodová. Penalties: 2:3. No PP goals. Attendance: 78. Shots on goal: 32:28. Game progress: 0:2, 1:2.

Team Czech Republic lineup: Lhotská – Kolowratová, Horálková, Flachsová, Lásková, Hudečková, Výtisková, Pelikánová, Herzigová – Holešová, Polenská, Studentová – Vopravilová, Přibylová, Lédlová – Kaplanová, Bukolská, Manhartová – Nárožná, Chmelová, Topolská.