The guests entered the final without their junior star Axel Sandin Pellikka, who, due to an injury from the championship, watched the game only from the stands of the Ostravar Arena.
“I got two days off, it was possible,” answered the 19-year-old hockey player when asked if he needed a little more rest after the successful championship. “It was something different, it took me a while to adapt to the pace of the game, it was stronger and faster than the junior matches, but in the end it didn’t turn out so bad,” hoped Prčík, who stayed on the ice for almost thirteen minutes and was in the defensive pair with his partner Radek With a crane for two opponent goals.
“The first one, we couldn’t get the puck out of the zone and they played well. The puck should have just gone out,” Prčík described moments before the opening goal of the match, which was scored in the 6th minute by Skellefetea’s most productive player Linus Lindberg.
The second time Prčík looked at the puck in the home net was in the 26th minute, when he broke his stick and it took a while for Roberts Bukarts to hand him his. “I’m left-handed and there were three right-handed players on the ice at that moment. That was a bit unfortunate,” sighed defender Vítkovic, who had already received a standing ovation from the fans before the match.
Photo: Petr Kotala
Vítkovice defender Matěj Prčík in the Champions League match against Skelleftea
The Vítkovice club prepared a festive ceremony for all three medalists from Sweden, Prčík, Matěj Příbyl and coach Pavlov Trnk, during which the trio of representatives showed their medals to almost six thousand spectators, and then they each went their separate ways. Prčík on the ice, Trnka on the home plate and Příbyl handing out autographs to the fans.
“Originally, I was supposed to go to the autograph signing with Matěj, but in the end I was nominated for the match, so I focused mainly on him during the ceremony. But it was nice,” said Prčík.
The native of Hodonín was originally supposed to play the role of a substitute in Sweden at the world junior championship, but after the injury of Adam Jiříček, coaches Patrik Augusta, Pavel Trnka and Robert Reichel put him on the roster.
“Playing at the World Championships and winning a medal is an amazing feeling. The whole team will remember it forever. But now is not the time for any celebrations. Maybe after the season. We have to put on overalls and work,” smiled the talented defender.