Czechs edge Switzerland 5:4 at the Ice Hockey World Championships to clinch berth in the quarterfinals against the United States

The Czech national hockey team edged Switzerland in their final preliminary group match at the Ice Hockey World Championship in Russia on Tuesday. The final score was 5-4. The Czechs had led 2-1 after the first two periods but the Swiss roared back in the 3rd to make a match of it. The Czechs face the United States in the quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon.

In seven matches in the preliminary round, the Czechs lost only once (in a penalty shootout against Denmark) and felled powerhouse teams such as Russia and Sweden. Fans, iDnes reported, have launched an online petition for coach Vladimír Vůjtek to stay on after the end of the championship; he is to be succeeded in the post by current assistant coach Josef Jandač.

Author: Jan Velinger