Final rosters announced! Czech men's and women's national teams set their sights on world gold in Ostrava

The Men's and Women's Ball Hockey World Championship will get underway in Ostrava on Saturday, June 20. The home championship will be a special occasion for Czech ball hockey, as both national teams will be defending the silver medals they won at the previous World Championship.

Head coaches Michal Broulík and David Kuna have announced their final rosters, which will lead the Czech teams in pursuit of their dream goal – ending North American dominance and bringing the world title back to the Czech Republic.

The women's team aims to end North American dominance

The women's national team will be led by head coach Michal Broulík, who has been working with the Czech women's national teams for more than nine years. The Czech women won silver medals at the last World Championship and are once again aiming high this year.

“Before every championship, we believe in victory and success. Czech ball hockey has long been among the world's elite and always sets the highest goals on the international stage, but so do our opponents. Nobody goes to a championship just to participate,” says Michal Broulík.

When building the roster, the coaching staff did not focus solely on the last World Championship. They considered a broader perspective, including the players' experience and current form.

“We do not build the team based only on the results and performances from the last World Championship. Our goal is to have the strongest possible roster before every tournament, but at the same time we consider a wide range of other factors on a much broader scale, taking into account experience, the current situation and future outlook,” Broulík explains.

Team unity should be one of the Czech team's greatest strengths. “It may sound like a cliché, but the path to success will clearly depend on the players staying healthy, a great atmosphere in the stands and strong team chemistry in the locker room. Only then will we be able to push beyond our limits in the decisive moments,” he adds.

He sees Canada and the United States as the biggest challengers, as they have won the last two World Championships. “All opponents will be difficult, each in a different way. The most recent world champions, in 2022 and 2024, were the North American teams, Canada and the USA, and they will once again be among the strongest contenders.”

The fans inside Ostravar Arena will also play an important role. “The support of the fans and the atmosphere during the games can often inspire teams on the playing surface to deliver outstanding performances. It is not uncommon for players to push themselves beyond their normal limits in those moments.”

The men believe in home advantage and the support from the stands

The men's national team also has high ambitions after winning silver at the last World Championship. Head coach David Kuna is supported by an experienced coaching staff, including assistant coach Milan Jelen. “A World Championship at home in Ostrava is a huge event not only for the national team, but for the entire Czech ball hockey community,” says Milan Jelen.

The Czech team has already completed several national team camps and the final phase of preparation ahead of the home championship. “It is the culmination of all the preparation and hard work put in by the players, coaching staff and everyone involved in the ball hockey community. We are all looking forward to the atmosphere of a home championship and believe we will enjoy it together with the fans.”

The final roster was determined not only by statistics, but also by how individual players fit into the team's playing system. “When selecting players, we do not focus only on statistics or performances in club competitions. What matters most is whether a player fits our vision for a specific position and role within the team.”

One of the Czech team's greatest strengths is the combination of experience and youthful energy. “The Czech national team has long been among the world's elite, and many of our players have experience from top international tournaments. At the same time, we have a healthy balance of experienced players and a younger generation that brings energy, speed and a strong desire to succeed.”

The men's team also respects the strength of traditional rivals, especially Canada, the United States, Slovakia and Switzerland. “The level of world ball hockey is becoming increasingly balanced, and there are no easy opponents at a World Championship anymore. Every game will require maximum concentration and respect for the opposition.”

According to Jelen, the home crowd could play a decisive role. “We believe Ostrava will create an incredible atmosphere and that the fans will be our symbolic sixth player. Our task will be to repay their support with our performances on the court and represent Czech ball hockey in the best possible way.”