Gold stays home: Czech U23 and U16 Red teams dominate the World Championship in Hradec Králové
The 2025 Ball Hockey Junior World Championship, held in Hradec Králové, brought a historic success for Czech ball hockey. The U23 team defended its title from the 2023 home championship in Liberec, and the Czech U16 Red team claimed gold for only the second time in history.
Gold for U23: Czechs confirm their status as world ball hockey leaders
The U23 team, led by head coach Jiří Mašík, had an excellent tournament run. Wins over the USA, Great Britain, Canada, and United Nations, a narrow loss to Slovakia, and a final victory over Canada capped a dominant path to the title. The Czech squad successfully defended its gold medal from the 2023 Junior World Championship in Liberec.
“We had a team full of talent but also a tremendous desire to win. The boys came together in the key moments – especially the final showed their character. Massive credit to the whole team,” said head coach Jiří Mašík. The U23 team also led individual statistics. Jan Čejka was named the tournament MVP, and the All-Star team included goalie Antonín Křemenák, defenseman Martin Kubíček, and forward Petr Šíma.
U16 Red celebrates gold on home soil, White team finishes fifth
The Czech U16 Red team, coached by Michal Koza, delivered excellent performances throughout the tournament. After an opening loss to Canada, they won every remaining game, including the final against the USA. The title is the second in history for the Czech U16 category, following their triumph in 2023 in Liberec.
“I’m incredibly proud of the boys. We were a team that improved with each game. The players gave it their all and showed that winning gold at home is never easy,” said head coach Michal Koza. Josef Flechtner was named the MVP of the U16 category, and defenseman Martin Hruška was selected to the All-Star team.
The Czech White team, composed mainly of young talents, also put in a solid performance. Their tournament debut included a dominant 22–1 win over Great Britain. In the final match for fifth place, Vojta Šimic scored the winning goal in the final second for a 4–3 win against Switzerland.
Words from the organizers and thanks from the city of Hradec Králové
“I believe the Czech Ball Hockey Federation is setting the standard for organizing international championships. We have a great team, and I’m happy we could deliver such a powerful experience for both fans and athletes. This junior championship showed how strong our community is – and that Czech ball hockey is a force not only on the rink but also behind the scenes. We now look ahead to organizing the senior World Championship in Ostrava, which we aim to make the biggest ball hockey event in history,” said ČMSHb president Ondřej Průša.
“Everything went smoothly from an organizational perspective. Huge thanks to all volunteers, technicians, and organizers who once again confirmed that tournaments in the Czech Republic are of a high standard. The atmosphere in the arena was fantastic, attendance was great, and the performances on the floor topped it all off,” added organizing committee head Jiří Cícha.
“Hradec Králové has shown it is a city of sport. The Junior World Championship was a beautiful celebration of ball hockey and a part of the 800th anniversary of our city. Thanks to everyone who created an environment where young players' dreams could come true – and to the fans for their support, which will be remembered by everyone involved. A big congratulations to all the Czech teams,” said Mayor Pavlína Springerová.
