CZECHS INTO WIN COLUMN WITH VICTORY OVER SLOVAKIA

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Man. – Matej Psota scored the game winner with 7:38 to go as the Czech Republic scored their first win of the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge on Saturday afternoon, 4-1 over Slovakia.

The game marked the first-ever tournament meeting between the two halves of the former Czechoslovakia, and was the first game at this year’s event not to feature a North American team.

Psota, Jan Hudecek and Matej Zadrazil each had a goal and an assist for the Czechs, while Dominik Volek rounded out the scoring into an empty net in the dying seconds.

Jan Blasko scored the lone goal for Slovakia, which is 0-3 with one game remaining – it takes on West on Sunday night (7:30 p.m. CT) in the final game of the preliminary round.

Marek Langhamer picked up the win in net for the Czechs, making 25 saves for the victory as his team was outshot 26-25. Richard Sabol suffered the loss for the Slovaks.