SMEJKAL NETS GOAL AND ASSIST AS CZECHS OPEN WSSC WITH 5-1 WIN OVER OHA

CALGARY, Alta. – Jiri Smejkal scored a goal and added an assist and Pavel Jenys grabbed two assists as the Czech Republic put on a dynamic performance, beating the Okanagan Hockey Academy by a score of  5-1 on Friday in Prep Division play at the 2013 World Sport School Challenge.

After Michal Kovaík made it 1-0 for the Czechs just 55 seconds into the first period, Pavel Pýcha and Dominik Mašin combined for an early goal-of-the-tournament candidate. Pýcha found Mašin with a slap-pass through two Okanagan defenders and then Mašin was able to deke to his backhand and slide the puck past Okanagan goaltender Blake Pearson to make it 2-0 for the Czechs after one period.

In the second period, which the Czechs outshot Okanagan by a count of 15-3, Smejkal was awarded a penalty-shot and made good on the attempt, deking forehand to backhand to beat Pearson and put the Czechs up 3-0 which would hold-up through 40 minutes.

Zak Bowles cut the Czechs lead to 3-1 just over five minutes into the third period but the Czechs would get it right back and then some, as Martin Beneš and Milan Švarc added singles to make it 5-1. Vitek Vanek made 14 saves in net for the Czechs, who outshot Okanagan 39-15 in the game.

The Czechs will look to stay undefeated in an all-European match-up on Saturday against Germany to kick-off the day in the Prep Division, while Okanagan will look for their first victory of the WSSC against the Banff Hockey Academy later in the day.