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2022 Worlds: Czechia Wins First Medal Defeating Switzerland 4-2

The Czechs stun in dominant bronze medal matchup to podium for the first time at this tournament

In somewhat of an unexpected twist, the bronze medal matchup for this year’s world championship became an injured Switzerland roster facing Czechia, who has never made it this far in a tournament ever. It begs for the drama!

Ultimately, Czechia took home the bronze medal. For the first time ever, Czechia will be on the podium, effectively pushing out Switzerland who struggled in this tournament.

1st Period

CZE: Natalie Mlynkova - Katerina Mrazova & Aneta Tejralova PPG - 7:03

Pretty quickly, the Czechs took control of the game, dominating puck possession and not allowing a shot by Switzerland for almost nine minutes. After drawing a high sticking penalty, they quickly scored first on the power play.

SUI: Alina Marti - Lara Christen & Sinja Leemann PPG - 11:19

The very player who took the initial Swiss penalty, Marti fired back after Pejsova from Czechia took a penalty. On the first shot of the game by Switzerland, Marti evened out the score.

CZE: Daniela Pejsova - Dominika Lasokva - 15:07

Much like Marti did, Pejsova who had just come off of a penalty, scored to put Czechia back up by one goal. On a bad cross-ice pass by Switzerland, Pejsova got ahold of the puck alone, took a small breakaway and was able to bury the puck in the net.

This is how the first period would end, Czechia up by one and dominating the shots on goal 12-2.

2nd Period

CZE: Vendula Pribylova- Noemi Neubauerova - 22:06

Just two minutes into the second period, Pribylova gave the Czechs some breathing room with this even strength goal to make it 3-1.

After this, there were quite a handful of penalties gives across the board, both teams playing with some lack of discipline on the ice.

CZE: Natalie Mlynkova - Katerina Mrazova - 29:59

Mlynkova scored her second of the game right after a Switzerland penalty expired. This made the score 4-1 in favor of the Czechs. At this point, Switzerland had taken a few bad penalties and had only registered four shots on goal. Czechia was definitely pulling away with this one.

3rd Period

Switzerland came out fighting in the third period. For the first time all game, it was the Swiss dominating possession. They racked up ten shots in just half the period, almost doubling their total for the first two periods alone.

SUI: Nicole Vallario - Dominique Ruegg & Lara Stalder PPG - 49:11

After a huge breakaway chance by the Czechs to really shut the door was stopped, Vallario stepped up on the power play and was able to get another goal on the board, shortening the difference to two.

Switzerland kept the pressure on for the rest of the period, even getting some power play opportunities and have a two-player advantage late in the game when they pulled their goalie from the net.

Ultimately, it was not enough and time ticked down in Czechia’s favor. For the first time ever in this tournament, the Czechs are medalists.

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