Buffalo 2015: Czech Republic preview

Still on the hunt for the first A-Pool medal, the Czech Republic have been in good form this season. 20 Apr 2015

The Czech Republic finished fourth at the 2013 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships A-Pool.

ⒸGetty Images

By IPC

Outlook

The Czech Republic are the nearly men of the A-Pool, having just missed out on bronze in 2012 and 2013 against Canada and then Russia.

Perhaps this time round they can call on their experience of ultimate fighting, as the team have been using their downtime to challenge each other in bouts.

They will face defending champions Canada once again in the group games, and have form against Russia this season, having beaten the Sochi 2014 silver medallists at the Czech Sledge Open in January.

If they get to play Russia, defenceman Pavel Kubes will once again be at the forefront of their efforts having been in good form in 2014-15, scoring both of their two goals in their 2-1 Open victory.

Fellow Group A team Norway could also prove to be troublesome for their medal efforts, after finishing above the Czech Republic in their group at Sochi 2014 and pushing them out of contention.

Japan round-off the challengers in their group.

Key players

Pavel Kubes (defenseman); Michal Vapenka (goaltender)

Head coach

Jiri Briza

World Championship A-Pool medals

None

Paralympic medals

None

Team roster

Vapenka, Michal (G)

Motycka, David (D)