Czechia’s WEHT in Ängelholm: What We Saw and What We Learned
Czechia’s women’s national team wrapped up the Ängelholm stop of the Women’s Euro Hockey Tour with a 1–2 record, a surprising 1–4 loss to Sweden, another 1–4 defeat to rivals Finland, and a 1–0 shutout win over Switzerland.
Across those three games, the team showed flashes of strength, particularly defensively against Switzerland, but also struggled with execution, tempo, and cohesion. The takeaway: while veterans and young talent stepped up in moments, Czechia still has work to do on offense, special teams, and overall chemistry heading into the final stretch before the 2026 Olympics.
The Good
In their closing match against Switzerland, Czechia delivered a commanding defensive performance, outshooting their opponents 34-10 en-route to a 1-0 victory. Goaltender Julie Pejšová was the star of the game, earning a shutout in her senior national team debut, a massive moment for the young netminder, who plays domestically in Czechia.
The lone goal came short-handed from Barbora Juříčková of Finland’s HPK, a determined, opportunistic strike during a penalty kill that epitomized her relentless playing style we’ve become accustomed to. Czechia’s skaters dominated puck battles and limited Switzerland to just two shots in the final period, displaying what the team can achieve through disciplined zone control and an aggressive penalty kill.
Elsewhere in net, Klára Peslarová made several crucial saves against Finland, keeping that game close deep into the third period. Though the final scoreline didn’t favor Czechia, Peslarová’s composure and early saves prevented the contest from slipping away sooner. Not a surprise that she was a pillar of confidence for the team.
The Concerns
Slow starts and missed chances. In both losses, Czechia struggled to capitalize early and establish rhythm. Against Sweden, the Czechs squandered several Grade-A opportunities in the opening frame and trailed into the second, though Vendula Přibylová briefly tied it 1-1 midway through the game. Sweden then scored three unanswered goals in the third period to pull away.
Against Finland, the Czechs again started flat, conceding just 67 seconds in, then equalizing moments later before being outshot 14-4 in the first period. These sluggish openings were without a doubt an underline, with a need for more urgency and precision early in games.
Offensive inconsistency plagued this team. Scoring was at a premium throughout the week: just one goal in each game (Přibylová vs. Sweden, Kristýna Kaltounková vs. Finland, Juříčková vs. Switzerland). Czechia went scoreless on all seven power-play opportunities, including a costly 5-on-3 against Sweden in which they surrendered a goal instead. Zone entries and puck cycling often broke down under pressure from Finland and Sweden’s aggressive forecheck. The Finns’ second goal, a Michelle Karvinen power-play marker, came off a Czech line-change error and rebound miscue. Secondary scoring remains a glaring gap; outside of the primary scorers, no Czech forward found the back of the net.
Special teams and structure were the crux of success though. The power play never found its rhythm, while the penalty kill faltered at key moments. Czechia allowed Sweden and Finland to score with the advantage but produced no goals of their own in return. Juříčková’s short-handed strike stood as the lone bright spot, an exception that proved the rule. And overall pace and cohesion lacked. Against elite Scandinavian opposition, Czechia often lagged in speed and physical engagement. As Sport.cz noted, Czech skaters “lagged in movement” and struggled with clean zone entries, particularly against Finland. Line chemistry appeared inconsistent: head coach Carla MacLeod shuffled combinations throughout the week in search of offensive spark. Some trios that looked strong on paper lacked creativity in execution, and the adjustments, while understandable for an experimental tournament, yielded mixed results.
Tactical and Lineup Notes
Goaltending rotation: MacLeod gave all three goalies a start: Dominika Nováková versus Sweden, Peslarová versus Finland, and Pejšová against Switzerland. Each faced distinct challenges. Nováková, making her senior debut, had an uneven performance against Sweden but showed flashes of potential. Peslarová was steady and composed, while Pejšová’s shutout was a dream result for the youngster.
This was a veteran-heavy lineup compared to the August stop, but notable absences included Adéla Šapovalivová (Wisconsin) and Andrea Trnková (Clarkson, out injured). Anežka Čabelová replaced Šapovalivová and impressed with her pace and poise, showing readiness from her NCAA experience at Boston University. Karolína Kosinová also joined the blue line, logging limited but steady minutes.
The top line of Kateřina Mrázová, Natálie Mlýnková, and Kristýna Kaltounková opened the tournament but needed time to regain rhythm, understandable, as it marked Mrázová’s first games since last season and all three are awaiting PWHL play. Later, Tereza Vanišová rotated into that line for the final game. Defensively, Pejšová and Sára Čajanová formed a reliable pairing, supported by captain Aneta Tejralová and Noemi Neubauerová, who continued her conversion from forward to defense. Outside of the Switzerland match, where the blue line excelled, Czechia’s defensive transitions were inconsistent, marked by turnovers and stagnant breakouts.
MacLeod’s systems leaned conservative, emphasizing structure and backchecking over offensive risk-taking. The power play lacked puck speed and cross-ice creativity. Czechia often reverted to a passive defensive shell when protecting a lead instead of maintaining pressure. Whether the staff will pivot toward a more aggressive cycle game ahead of Olympic play remains to be seen.
What Comes Next
The mood in the locker room was likely one of mixed emotions, disappointment at the results but determination to improve. The disciplined, defensively sound performance versus Switzerland offers a silver lining, but the two heavy defeats leave open questions, especially with the Olympics fast approaching.
As Kaltounková put it after the Finland loss, the team must “keep our heads clear.” The next major test comes in December at the Six Nations Tournament in Finland (Dec. 8–14, 2025) Czechia’s final tune-up before Milan-Cortina. The focus now turns to power-play creativity, sharper neutral-zone execution, and integrating young players without sacrificing system discipline.
Individually, roster competition will intensify. The defensive core appears largely set, but several forwards, including Čabelová, Tereza Plosová, Linda Voctková, and Tereza Pištěková, are likely fighting for one of the final Olympic roster spots once Šapovalivová returns.
Ultimately, the biggest question remains: Can Czechia generate enough scoring punch to match the world’s elite? They’ll need to if they hope to challenge Sweden and Finland at the next stop, and eventually, Canada and the USA, in their push for an Olympic medal.
As coach MacLeod reminded her players after the Finland loss, “If we’re going to succeed, we must play with more heart.”
The Ängelholm trip ended with more questions than answers for Czech women’s hockey, but also with clarity about what needs fixing. The road to Milan-Cortina 2026 continues, and this week in Sweden was one more lesson along the way.
