Another gold for Czechia! U23 win in overtime

Drama until the very last second! The Slovaks quickly took the lead, Martin Zummer surprised the Czech goalie at time 03:20. Czechia equalized towards the end of the first period as Nicolas Langr scored in a power-play. The game then shifted to a tactical battle solidified by strong defenses, both teams were waiting for a mistake on the other side. That wasn't happening for a long time, though, as the 1,462 fans watching the gold-medal game didn't see any more goals in the regulation time. Thus the game went into overtime. And who else than Nicolas Langr could make the Home Credit Arena almost literally erupt in joy! The Czech forward scored a rebound, netting his second of the game and winning Czechia U23 the gold medals.

Home Credit Arena

2-1

(1:1, 0:0, 0:0 - 1:0)

Czechia U23 - Slovakia U23

Penalties

3:2

PPG

1:0

SHG

0:0

Shots on goal

29:28

Goals and assists

12. Langr (Čejka, Lhota), 52. Langr – 4. Zummer (Jenčuš)

Referees

Matthew Wass, Trevor Jarvis

Official game sheet

Czechia U23

Foršt – Teinitzer, Geisler, Vaniš (A), Školoudík, Kastner, Procházka, Štěpánek, Stupka (C), Chramosta, Kaňák, Jágr, Kucharčík, Janeček, Kamenář, Laurinc (A), Kovárník, Licek, Lhota, Čejka, Macháček, Langr

Slovakia U23

Balogáč – Černák, Gajdoš (A), Jenčuš, Korbáš, Pisarovič, Prna, Kolenčík, Longauer, Kaščák (C), Solník, Muráň, Hryzák, Cifranič, Straka, Tomkovič, Polák, Horváth, Zummer, Lopušan, Béreš, Čirč (A), Štefanka

COACHES´ REACTIONS

Jiří Mašík (CZK): „I have to say that we didn't quite live up to the performance we showed against the United States and Canada. Of course, we wanted to go for it, but perhaps the fatigue started to show a bit. After all, six matches in five days were demanding. Additionally, I have to take my hat off to the Slovak team because they played very well. They maintained their game, then troubled us with quick counterattacks around the boards, and had several great chances from passes to the center. Today, Pája saved us in goal. I think it was thanks to him alone that we managed to bring the match to 1-1, and then we decided it. The guys fought, and we can't deny them even a bit of credit. At the beginning, we were a bit stunned, but after the equalizing goal, we got going. It was a very evenly matched game, and I think the luckier side won.“

Marián Longauer (SVK): „The final match against the Czech Republic was the most beautiful experience I've had in my hockeyball career. The Czech players played fantastic hockeyball, and we tried to adapt to them, sometimes even managing to create beautiful chances. We were very close. We led the match, and in the final stage of overtime, it was, I think, more about luck. We had three fantastic chances that we didn't convert, and then we conceded. I want to sincerely thank the boys; they showed incredible determination and fighting spirit. They prepared for a long time, I have been coaching them for two years, and I must admit they were also very well-prepared. They played in a fantastic state, and the ending was truly just a matter of luck. Congratulations to our opponents; they were excellent.“