Team Czechia enters the 2025 World Deaf Ice Hockey Championships (WDIHC) with a renewed sense of purpose and confidence. After decades of sporadic participation in deaf hockey – their first Deaflympic appearance came back in 1995 – the Czech squad has in recent years built a solid program that blends veteran leadership with an infusion of young talent. This roster features players as young as 14 and as old as 44, a remarkable age range that speaks to both the team's youth development and the longevity of its leaders. Guided by an experienced coaching staff and inspired by a passion years in the making, Team Czechia is poised to make a spirited run in Vancouver.
Deaf Hockey Roots and Revival
Czechia's deaf hockey journey has been one of patience and perseverance. After that 1995 Deaflympics debut in Finland, the national team went quiet for many years. It wasn't until the mid-2010s that a new generation of players and organizers revived the program. In 2016, a fresh committee of enthusiastic deaf players and volunteers began rebuilding the team, organizing domestic championships and even staging friendly games and a mini "European" tournament to gain experience.
These efforts culminated in Czechia's first-ever appearance at the World Deaf Ice Hockey Championships in 2017. That 2017 WDIHC in Amherst, NY was a baptism by fire. The Czechs, hastily assembled in a matter of months, had to endure several lopsided defeats – including losses of 0–17 to the U.S. and 0–19 to Canada. They finished last in the tournament (5th place out of 5) but gained invaluable experience and motivation.
Rather than be discouraged, the team returned home with heads held high and a resolve to improve. The players committed to meeting for training camps six to eight times a year to build chemistry and skills. "During the next years we will work hard, recruit new young promising players, so that we can get closer to teams like USA, Canada and Finland," the coaching staff ambitiously declared back then.
Veteran Leadership and Experience
Anchoring Team Czechia is a core of veteran players who bring a wealth of experience from both past deaf hockey events and mainstream competition. Leading the defensive unit is Jan Psota, a 44-year-old defenseman who only joined the national deaf team in 2023 but immediately became an integral leader. Psota had a long career in Czech amateur leagues, and his steady presence on the blue line has been a huge boost for Czechia's back end.
Another stalwart is Tomáš Bakrlík, a 41-year-old forward who previously played professionally in Czech leagues. Bakrlík's offensive instincts and veteran savvy provide the team with a proven scoring touch and mentorship for the younger forwards.
Veteran forward Tomáš Hartinger (age 39) is a key offensive catalyst as well. A former top scorer in the Czech deaf hockey league, Hartinger plays an important role on special teams and brings leadership from his many years with the program.
Youth Movement
Complementing the veteran core is a wave of young talent that has injected energy and speed into the Czech lineup. In fact, Czechia's roster now includes several teenagers who represent the future of the program – and they are already making an impact.
The most notable is Jakub Štajer, who at just 14 years old has taken the deaf hockey world by storm. Štajer was the team's breakout star at an international deaf hockey series in April 2024, leading the Czech offense with 4 goals in the tournament. Despite his youth, he was even named Czechia's best player of that event, showcasing exceptional skill and fearlessness against much older opponents.
His performance earned high praise from team officials. "Our best player of the tournament, Jakub Štajer, is only 14 years old," manager Jiří Procházka marveled, underscoring the bright future this youngster has ahead.
Tournament Preparation
Team Czechia's preparation for WDIHC 2025 has been intensive. The cancellation of the 2024 Deaflympics hockey tournament – due to safety concerns and too few teams after the USA, Canada and Finland withdrew – could have been a major setback, but the Czechs turned it into an opportunity.
Instead of a Deaflympics, they traveled to Amherst, USA in April 2024 for the Jeff Sauer International Deaf Hockey Series, a four-nation event with the top deaf hockey countries. There, Czechia got invaluable high-level game experience, facing the United States, Canada and Finland – the same powerhouses they'll see in Vancouver.
While the results were mixed, the tournament was a watershed moment for the Czech team. They absorbed a 0–12 loss to Team USA in the opener (a scoreline that was actually an improvement from 2017), and then managed to notch a goal against defending champion Canada in a 1–10 game (forward Anagnostis Spatharis broke the shutout with a proud tally).
Outlook for WDIHC 2025
As the puck drops in Vancouver, Team Czechia finds itself in a dramatically better position than ever before. The roster is both seasoned and youthful, the players are battle-tested, and morale is sky-high. Team captain (yet to be officially announced) will likely come from the veteran group, providing steady leadership on and off the ice. Meanwhile, the young stars are eager to prove themselves on the biggest stage of deaf hockey.
The Czech coaches and management have cultivated a true team-first mentality – one that has carried them through the hardships of fundraising, event cancellations, and long training weekends. "Our team was visibly many times better than it used to be," Procházka said, reflecting on the recent strides made. That improvement has not gone unnoticed by their North American and Scandinavian rivals.
Expect Team Czechia to be a competitive and resilient opponent for every team in Vancouver. Whether it's the poised older generation or the fearless new wave, this Czech squad will undoubtedly "leave it all on the ice" as they chase their dream of a world championship medal.