Recap: Women’s Euro Hockey Tour - Leg 2 - Sweden

The Czech National Team continued their impressive start to the season with a dominant performance in the second leg of the Women’s Euro Hockey Tour (WEHT) held in Södertälje, Sweden. Building on their success from the first leg in Kloten, Switzerland, the Czechs once again showcased their resilience and skill, securing the top spot with victories over Sweden, Finland, and Switzerland.

Game 1: Overtime Triumph Against Sweden

The tournament kicked off with a thrilling overtime victory against the home team, Sweden. The Czechs, who had previously defeated Sweden 6-3 in Kloten, faced a much tougher challenge this time around. The game was tightly contested, with both teams showcasing strong defensive play.

From the outset, it was clear that this game would be a balanced duel. The Czechs came out with an active approach, earning the first power play of the game early on. However, the Swedes remained composed and successfully killed the penalty, setting the tone for what would become a defensive struggle.

The first period saw both teams trading chances, with the Czechs threatening through Denisa Křížová, who pulled the puck out of a cluster of bodies and tried to put it behind the Swedish goalkeeper. Despite several rebounds, the puck stayed out of the net. The Swedes also had their moments in close proximity to Klára Peslarová, which the attentive Czech goalkeeper saved. The period ended scoreless, with the Swedes hitting the top post in the dying seconds.

The second period mirrored the first in its intensity and defensive solidity. The Czechs had another power play opportunity early on, but the Swedish penalty kill stood firm once again. The breakthrough came just before the halfway mark of the game when Emma Forsgren fired a shot from the blue line, taking advantage of a screen in front of Peslarová to give Sweden a 1-0 lead. The Czechs, however, responded swiftly. Just four minutes later, Tereza Radová's blocked attempt turned into a "blooper" that sailed through the air and landed behind the unsuspecting Swedish goalkeeper, Ebby Svenson Träff, tying the game at 1-1. Radová later admitted the goal was more of a throw than a shot, but as many will know, sometimes you just need to get pucks on the net and let luck take over.

The final period saw the Czechs pushing hard for the lead. Michaela Pejzlová had a promising chance but was unable to convert. Kateřina Mrázová then found herself on a breakaway after another unsuccessful power play but was denied by Svenson Träff's quick reflexes. The Czechs dominated possession and created several opportunities but were unable to find the back of the net, leading to a goalless third period. While watching, I noticed that the Czech offense seemed fragmented at times, struggling to connect on passes. However, they did have a couple of opportunities that could have turned the game in their favor. Despite the offensive struggles, there were periods of skill and showmanship, without question demonstrating just how capable this team is.

The game was ultimately decided in overtime, which lasted just over a minute. Tereza Vanišová took matters into her own hands, executing a brilliant individual play and finishing with a precise backhand shot under the top post, securing a 2-1 victory for the Czechs.

Goalkeeper Klára Peslarová (in an interview with Cesky Hokej), who was named the player of the match, reflected on the importance of the win. "It was a very balanced match, very physical. We had small mistakes there, we will learn from them,".. Peslarová's performance was crucial, especially considering the limited number of shots she faced in the first period. "I keep up the pace all the time, although of course it's better when there are more shots," she added.

I was really happy with Klára Peslarová's performance as she put in a good effort in her only game of the weekend. The importance is not lost as she reports to PWHL Training camp with the Boston Fleet this week vying for a spot on the final roster.

Positives I took from the game include the fact that while physical, the Czechs were able to do something they didn't do in the first tournament, which was play very disciplined hockey. There was much to be desired offensively in this game, but there were periods of skill and showmanship that showed a much more cohesive defensive effort.

Despite these areas for improvement, the victory was a significant confidence booster for the team. "It's a very important win. But we have to go further. We want to win the next match in sixty minutes!" Peslarová commanded, setting the stage for the upcoming games against Finland and Switzerland.

Game 2: Narrow Victory Over Finland

After their thrilling overtime win against Sweden, Finland was next up. This match, now the second replay of the bronze medal game from the last Women's World Championship, proved to be another tightly contested battle.

The opening period was a hard-fought battle, with both teams vying for control of the ice. Both goalkeepers, Viktorie Švejdová for the Czechs and Anni Keisala for the Finns, were in top form, keeping the game scoreless after twenty minutes of play. The Czechs had a couple of good opportunities, with Lucie Gruntová and Adéla Šapovalivová coming close, but neither could find the back of the net.

The second period saw the Finns strike first. Susana Tapani faked a shot from the left circle, drawing the attention of the Czech defenders and goalkeeper, before passing to a wide-open Elisa Holopainen, who finished into the half-open net. However, as we’ve seen before with this team, the Czechs responded quickly. Just six minutes later, Kateřina Mrázová won the puck behind the Finnish goal and passed to Tereza Vanišová, who managed to beat Keisala with a backhand shot despite being surrounded by Finnish defenders. This goal tied the game at 1-1 and gave the Czechs a much-needed boost.

Less than two minutes before the second intermission, the Czechs took the lead. Hana Haasová's initial pass didn't find its mark, but she quickly recovered the puck behind the Finnish goal and, with a swift turn, slid it past Keisala to the far post, giving the ladies a lead they would hold onto for the rest of the game. (A huge congrats to Hana for scoring her first ever goal with the national team!)

In the third, the Czechs focused on maintaining their lead. The Finns had a power play opportunity late in the game, but the Czech penalty kill unit, which had been strong throughout the tournament, held firm. Viktorie Švejdová made several key saves to preserve the lead, and the Czechs celebrated their second win of the tournament.

While watching, I noticed that the Czech power play was much improved in this game. The system seemed to gel better, and there was a more concerted effort to get pucks to the net and take a more shooting-oriented approach. Tereza Vanišová was rightly named the player of the match. She was one of the standout players, consistently keeping the puck in the Finnish zone and creating scoring opportunities.

It was an improved effort over their overtime win against Sweden. The Czechs showed resilience and determination, coming from behind to secure the victory. The defensive play, particularly on the penalty kill, was a key factor in their success. Vanišová, reflecting on the game, noted that while the team is struggling a bit with finishing, they are working hard to create opportunities around the net. "We try to push into the goal and work around it. I believe it will only get better," she said.

Game 3: Dominant Win Over Switzerland to Secure the Title

In the final game, the Czechs faced Switzerland with the tournament title on the line. The Swiss, known for their strong defensive play, held the Czechs at bay for much of the game. However, a breakthrough came late in the second period when Daniela Pejšová scored from the blue line, finding a gap between the Swiss goalkeeper's pads.

The Czechs extended their lead in the third period with goals from Denisa Křížová and Tereza Vanišová, securing a 3-0 victory. The standout performance coming from 18-year-old goalkeeper Barbora Dalecká, who recorded a shutout in her debut for the senior national team. "It's unbelievable, I never dreamed of this," Dalecká said with a smile. "I'm very happy for the opportunity I was given…Compared to the U18 games, it's a much faster, [it’s] a big jump. It was more like playing at the opponent's place in the third, I had fewer shots, but in any case I had to deal with it."

Standout Performances and Points to Ponder

Several players stood out during the tournament, continuing to build on their performances from the first leg. Tereza Vanišová was once again a key player, scoring crucial goals in all three games. Her ability to perform under pressure was evident, particularly in the overtime win against Sweden.

Defender Daniela Pejšová also had a significant impact, not only scoring the decisive goal against Switzerland but also providing stability on the blue line. And the goaltending depth of the Czech team was once more highlighted by the impressive debut of Barbora Dalecká. With Klára Peslárová leading the way and young talents like Dalecká stepping up, the Czechs have a solid foundation in net, with Viktorie Švejdová and Blanka Škodová filling in as immediate backups.

However, the team still has areas to improve. The Czechs struggled with finishing in some games, a theme that was also evident in the first leg of the tournament. Additionally, maintaining composure and discipline late in games remains a challenge, as seen in their narrow victories over Sweden and Finland.

Looking Ahead: Building on Success

Every goal from this weeks WEHT 2nd Leg!

The Czech team can take great confidence from their performance in Södertälje. Winning the second leg of the WEHT reinforces their status as one of Europe’s top teams and sets a positive tone for the rest of the season. With a blend of veteran leadership and young talent, the Czechs are well-positioned to continue their ascent.

If their performances in the first two legs of the WEHT are any indication, Czechia is on the right track to achieving their lofty goals set before them, which we hope will culminate in an exciting Women’s World Championship performance in České Budějovice in April!