Czech hockey team knocked out by Finland in World Championship quarter-final

The Czech hockey team was eliminated from the World Championship after a 4–1 quarter-final defeat to Finland in Zurich on Thursday night. Radim Rulík’s side trailed 3–0 early in the second period, with Filip Hronek scoring the Czechs’ only goal in the 31st minute. They finished fifth overall, one place higher than last year.

The defeat also marked the end of Rulík’s tenure as national coach. The 60-year-old took charge in 2023 and led the Czech Republic to the world title on home ice in Prague the following year. He will now move to Extraliga club Kladno, while the national team will be taken over by Zdeněk Moták and Pavel Gross.