The Czech national hockey team opens its season today at Prague’s O2 arena, facing Sweden in the first match of the Finnish Hockey Games. The game marks the debut of head coach Zdeněk Moták on the national team bench, though his roster will be missing veteran Roman Červenka due to injury.
Červenka sidelined as Frodl starts in goal
Roman Červenka, the 40-year-old forward, was ruled out of the lineup after failing to complete Tuesday’s practice. While he had been skating with a full-face shield following an earlier injury sustained in the domestic league, he did not participate in Wednesday’s training session. The team confirmed that for the 40-year-old veteran, the tournament has ended before it began. He was initially set to skip the Helsinki leg of the Euro Hockey Tour to prioritize his club, Dynamo Pardubice, which faces a Champions Hockey League playoff match against Finnish club SaiPa next Wednesday.
In goal, 30-year-old Dominik Frodl makes his first appearance for the national team since April 2025. He maintains a 1.30 goals-against average, a high save percentage, and has recorded three shutouts, helping his club secure nine wins in 13 appearances.
Moták’s tactical approach
Coach Moták’s strategy for the new season emphasizes active play, aggression, and consistent skating. Speaking on his philosophy, Moták noted that while the team must be capable of quality defensive play, he expects the squad to remain aggressive rather than waiting for the opponent. His assistant, Pavel Gross, emphasized that the coaching staff is prioritizing team cohesion and offensive zone efficiency in their limited preparation time. Gross confirmed that the coaching staff has been working closely with the players, including the Pardubice trio of Matěj Stránský, David Tomášek, and Jiří Smejkal, to integrate them into the system despite their upcoming club obligations.
We want to play attractive hockey, which is a game full of activity, aggression, and skating. There will certainly be instances in the match where we will have to play a high-quality defensive game; that is the foundation of hockey. I don’t want to say by that we will be retreating and waiting somewhere, but we want to play even that defensive game actively and aggressively.
Zdeněk Moták, head coach
The staff has also utilized the expertise of general manager Patrik Eliáš, who has been working with players like Blümel and Zohorna on technical aspects such as stick positioning for deflections. Gross noted that the team’s culture remains open, with the staff encouraging input from all members of the organization.
Sweden brings back experienced coach
Sweden enters the tournament with a familiar face at the helm: Rikard Grönborg. The coach, who previously led the Tre Kronor to world championship titles in 2017 and 2018, has returned to the position after a seven-year absence. Grönborg has brought a mix of experienced players from the SHL, including seven veterans with significant international experience and six newcomers. Moták and his staff are treating the opponent with respect, acknowledging that both teams are entering a new era with fresh coaching leadership.
The match at the O2 arena is the first time the national team has played in the venue since the 2024 World Championship, where the Czech side defeated Sweden 7–3 in the semifinals. The event also occurs during ongoing discussions about the international standing of Russian hockey. The Czech Ice Hockey Association previously expressed shock at the prospect of Russian teams returning to international competition, following a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding IIHF participation.
