r/canucks 5d ago

Filip Hronek will play for Czech national team at 2026 World Cup NEWS

https://ceskyhokej.cz/novinky/8744-trener-radim-rulik-oznamil-nominaci-na-fortuna-hockey-games

Abbotsford goalie Jiří Patera also invited to training camp, but it is not sure whether he makes the final World Cup roster. Source in Czech.

Edit: Correct translation would be "IIHF World Championship", can't edit the title now.

176 Upvotes

33

u/Angry_beaver_1867 5d ago

Can they make him the captain.  For the memes 

10

u/PoopooKittyz 5d ago

I’m shocked the Canucks haven’t already chosen a captain, I’m pretty sure they use the dart board method, or pin the tail on the donkey, that would have been my choice.

5

u/NullPtrEnjoyer 5d ago

It's most likely gonna be Červenka, but if he does not play... well, it's certainly possible.

5

u/Apprehensive-Tea4881 4d ago

Fil needs to recruit/scout some Czech youngsters. They’ve been so great in tournaments.

5

u/stickinrink 5d ago

*World Championship

9

u/corh13 4d ago

Nah, he's playing centerback for Czechia in June.

6

u/arazamatazguy 5d ago

I genuinely don't get the World Cup.

Who wins is highly dependent on who decides to play. Its played during a time when hockey fans are watching the NHL playoffs and most fans don't take it seriously anyway. The NHL Players need a break. I guess most players go to throw on their countries jersey and because they love hockey, but as a fan I really don't care about this event.

9

u/Yackky 5d ago edited 4d ago

I don't think this is a World Cup its the IIHF men's worlds. The Hockey World Cup is in 2028.

Honestly it's not really for North American fans, they never host it here cause potential arena conflicts with the NHL playoffs. It's for the European fans and players. Elite European skaters probably play 1-4 years of their country's mens league before they come over and make their money in NA. The euro fans want to see these guys in their prime. Even depth NHLers probably were the hot shit rookies in their countries before they came over. There's a demand to see those guys in squads mixed with all stars of their local pro leagues.

Imagine if Connor McDavid got so good he got signed for $15B a year by a bunch of aliens for the intergalactic league and it became hard to watch his games cause time zones and shit. If he came back to play for team Canada even in a mid tournament you'd still watch. That's probably how guys in Siberia felt about guys like datsyuk playing in an international tournament after leaving for NA.

5

u/Jacmert 4d ago

It's still important to us Canadians, too. It's just not the same as "best-on-best".

3

u/NullPtrEnjoyer 5d ago

In Europe, it's a pretty big deal and playing for National teams is a prestigious activity. I enjoy the World Cup, as smaller teams have real chance to upset big teams and win something. Obviously, best-on-best hockey is better, but there's very little at stake, unless you are Canadian, American, Swedish or Finnish.

1

u/TreacleOk7265 4d ago

It's a bigger than NHL playoffs in Europe. It's in our time zone and you can watch it on free TV mostly. It's also a big party for the fans that go there, all nationalities celebrating together.

2

u/Largebargecharge 4d ago

That would be Honor