2023 wphc can cze

Para Worlds Preview: Canada vs. Czechia

Saturday, June 3 | 7 p.m. MT | Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan | Semifinal

Shannon Coulter
|
June 3, 2023
|

After two rest days, Canada’s National Para Hockey Team returns to action in Moose Jaw, Sask., meeting Czechia for the second time this tournament in the semifinals of the 2023 World Para Hockey Championship.

Last Game

Canada closed out the preliminary round with a 3-0 loss to the United States. Captain Tyler McGregor led the team with five shots on net. Brody Roybal and Jack Wallace gave the U.S. a 2-0 lead before Travis Dodson added an empty-net goal late in the game. Dominic Larocque made 14 saves in the prelim finale.

Czechia secured its spot in the semifinals with a 4-0 win over Italy on Friday afternoon. Zdenek Habl and Pavel Kubes scored only 49 seconds apart in the middle frame, then Michael Geier added a shorthanded goal to give the Czechs a 3-0 lead after 30 minutes.

Last Meeting

Canada recorded its second win of the tournament after edging Czechia 2-1 on Tuesday night. McGregor opened scoring for the second game in a row and Adam Dixon scored the game-winning goal on the power play in the second period. Larocque made nine saves between the pipes for Canada in his first start at this year’s Para Worlds.

What to Watch

A veteran on Canada’s National Para Hockey Team, Larocque’s calm and focused approach in net has been a big boost for Canada over the years. The 35-year-old was previously named top goaltender at the 2019 and 2021 World Para Hockey Championships. In two starts in Moose Jaw, Larocque has a .885 saves percentage and a 1.52 goals-against average between the pipes.

Radek Zelinka and Greier are leading Czechia’s offence in this tournament. Zelinka has two goals in four games—one of which was a power-play goal against Canada. Greier leads his team with two goals and five points. In order for Canada to be successful, it needs to limit Zelinka and Greier's scoring chances throughout the game.

Look Back

Counting Canada’s win against Czechia earlier this week, the Canadians have won all 13 meetings.

These countries first met at the 2009 world championship on Czech ice, where Canada downed the hosts 3-0 in a game that saw Billy Bridges, Canada’s all-time leading scorer, net a pair of goals.

All-time record: Canada leads 13-0-0
Canada goals: 53
Czechia goals: 3

For more information:

Esther Madziya
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 284-6484 

emadziya@hockeycanada.ca 

Spencer Sharkey
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 777-4567

ssharkey@hockeycanada.ca

Jeremy Knight
Manager, Corporate Communications
Hockey Canada

(647) 251-9738

jknight@hockeycanada.ca

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