Czechs hammer Slovaks in hockey

An unprecedented shellacking of rival Slovakia gave new hopes to Czech hockey fans that the national team would fair well at the ongoing World Ice Hockey Championship in Switzerland that culminates May 10.

The Czechs beat Slovakia 8-0 in the game in Kloten, ringing up the largest ever margin of victory over Slovakia and also the third-highest Czech win in World Ice Hockey Championship history. The team's star, Jaromír Jágr, scored the first two goals within nine minutes of the first period, and New Jersey Devils' forward Patrik Eliáš, who arrived in Switzerland from the United States only hours before the game, scored the eighth goal in the 39th minute.

The win virtually sealed the Czechs a spot in the playoff round, which they later secured, that is scheduled to kick off May 6. It also helped local fans forget the disappointing results of the national team from earlier games in Switzerland. The Czechs celebrated wins against lowly Denmark (5-0) and Norway (5-2) in the first two games in the tournament, but later lost to Finland (4-3) and suffered a 5-1 beating at the hands of Team Canada.

"We could beat the weak teams, but when it came to facing big teams, we are on the losing end," said forward Aleš Hemský moments after the game against Canada.

In order to further increase team firepower, head coach Vladimír Růžička brought in last-minute boosts from the NHL: San Jose Sharks' forward Milan Michálek and Eliáš. In doing so, the team now has 15 forwards and only seven defensemen. After defenseman Michal Barinka injured his shoulder in the game against Slovakia, Růžička moved forward Tomáš Rolinek back to take his place.

In a further blow to the Czech team's defense, experienced goalie Martin Prusek reaggravated an earlier groin injury in the game against Slovakia. The team must now rely on two young goalies: Jakub Štěpánek and Lukáš Mensator.

"We'll have to focus on attack in the next games, even at the cost of conceding more goals," Růžička said.

Jágr eyes NHL return

Meanwhile, Czech team leader Jágr once again admitted that he may return to the NHL after one season away. Jágr, the most successful Czech player in league history, surprisingly moved from the New York Rangers to Russian Avangard Omsk last summer. Jágr said the Edmonton Oilers would be his first choice if he returned to the NHL.

The 37-year-old forward said he had some doubts that he could return to the NHL and compete.

"I am not sure I would be good enough anymore," he said of playing in the NHL. "It's a different rink, and I don't want to go there and be on the fourth line. I want to come back and be the top guy, and I don't know if I can do it."

Lightning Bolt in Ostrava

Organizers of the annual Golden Spike track-and-field competition held in Ostrava, north Moravia, in early June have drawn the fastest man on the planet for this year's event. Usain Bolt of Jamaica, who last year won the men's 100-meter and 200-meter gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, will once again compete in Ostrava. Bolt was also named athlete of the year by the track's governing body, the IAAF. He has previously run in the Ostrava competition in 2006 and 2008.

The event's manager, Alfonz Juck, said he invited Bolt to Ostrava moments after he had won the men's 100-meter sprint in Beijing. In Ostrava, Bolt is scheduled to compete in a 100-meter run. Bolt's appearance should help Golden Spike organizers push the event into the so-called Diamond League to be launched next year, a series of the world's most prestigious track-and-field events.

"Bolt's appearance this year is the best possible advertisement for our event. He'll also be arguably the biggest sports star to be live in this country this year," Juck said.

František Bouc can be reached at
fbouc@praguepost.com