Czechs defeated by Canada

The Czech national team lost 2:1 to Canada at the World Ice Hockey Championship in Stockholm on Sunday, seriously jeopardizing its chances of advancing to the quarterfinals. The Czech team, which had been struggling since the beginning of the tournament, put up a valiant fight against their strong opponent with Petr Koukal equalizing an opening goal by Canada’s Wayne Simmonds in the first period. Although the Czechs managed to maintain the score through the second period a goal from Jeff Skinner close to the end of the third period dashed their hopes of victory. The loss means that for the first time in the country’s modern history the Czechs might not advance to the quarterfinals.