Czechia sends warning to Team Canada ahead of Olympic opener

Team Canada kicks off its men’s Olympic hockey campaign on Thursday against Czechia, and while Canada is the clear gold medal favorites, the Czechs aren’t planning to make it easy.

“They’re all great players, so it’s going to be a big challenge for us,” said Czechia defenseman Radko Gudas, who plays for the Anaheim Ducks, after practice.

Facing Canada’s elite top line of centers, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Sidney Crosby, Czechia knows it will be tested at every turn. Beyond the big names, Canada brings depth in skill, checking, and experience, including young star Macklin Celebrini and superstar defenseman Cale Makar.

“We have to work our bags off pretty much the whole game,” Gudas added. “We got to make sure that we don’t give them enough space, enough time. It’s going to be the hardest game of our career, I would say, for everybody. Maybe we catch them sleeping a little bit with the time zones.”

Czechia’s goaltender, Karel Vejmelka, echoed the sentiment, via the Hockey News.

“They have a great team, you know, maybe one of the best in history, so exciting to have that team as a first to play against,” the Utah Mammoth netminder said. “Crosby, especially, is a legend. We are excited for sure.”

As for Boston Bruins’ David Pastrnak, he focused on the confidence in his teammates:

“It will take the perfect game for us. We will try our best. We are confident. We have a good group.”

After taking on the Czechs, Team Canada will turn its attention to Switzerland on Friday, but for Czechia, Thursday’s opener is a must-win opportunity to set the tone for the tournament.

They know the stakes, and they’re ready to give the favorites a test right from puck drop.