Czech pair returns to Oil Kings after capturing world junior bronze

Czechia forward Adam Jecho (10) skates past the bench to celebrate his game-winning goal with teammates during third period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinal action against Canada, in Ottawa, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

It was the “biggest goal” of junior forward Adam Jecho’s hockey career so far: the winning goal in the recent world junior championships that propelled his Czechia team into the semifinals.

It came against Canada in Ottawa last week and eliminated the hosts from the tournament. Czechia would lose to the eventual gold medal-winning U.S. team in the semis before beating Sweden on Sunday to claim bronze.

Jecho and Czech teammate Miroslav Holinka returned to their junior hockey club, the Edmonton Oil Kings, on Tuesday.

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“It was just so much emotion,” Jecho told media at Rogers Place alongside fellow forward Holinka. “All the hard work and all the battles that we had to go through during that game and eventually all pay off.

“We are super happy that we got the job done.”

Jecho scored two goals and five assists for seven points in the tournament, while Holinka notched one goal and three assists for four points.

It was the third straight year the Czechs left the annual world juniors with a medal. Czechia won bronze last year and silver in 2023, when they lost to Canada.

Jecho said his and Holinka’s Oil Kings teammates -- most of them Canadian -- warmly welcomed the pair back to the dressing room.

“Everybody congratulated us and treated us and welcomed us super well,” Jecho said. “All of the guys said that we have here are super supportive.”

The Oil Kings (20-14-1-2) face the visiting Saskatoon Blades (21-12-2-2) Wednesday night (7 p.m.) at Rogers Place. Edmonton is in fourth place in the WHL’s Eastern Conference while Saskatoon sit second heading into Tuesday night action.