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28. 6. 2025 - Kryštof Morong, Eva Šafranková, foto: Vojtěch Zajíc

Jan Čejka is playing in his last U23 championship; What does he think about the final against Canada?

​The Czech U23 team is defending its gold medal at this year's World Junior Championship and is not far from repeating its success. It has advanced to the final, where it will face Canada. The Czech team includes Jan Čejka, who is playing for the last time at the U23 level. The forward is one of the Czech team's biggest offensive producers. His best output was against the United Nations when he recorded three goals and four assists

After two years, the World Junior Championship is being held again in the Czech Republic, and you are again playing in the U23 category, but you also have experience with senior ball hockey. What is the biggest difference for you?
I think it's about maturity and experience. The younger age groups are mainly about running, unlike the A-level hockey, where teams can hold the ball and slow down the pace of the game to create real scoring chances. But here it's a lot of ups and downs and we, the more experienced ones, can show the others how to slow it down. I think that's why we have the results we have.

Do you feel that you have more responsibility in the younger age group?
To be honest, I try not to notice it. There are probably some expectations from me, but we have a great team. We have many skilled forwards here who are among the leaders in their teams. I don't take that responsibility too seriously and I'm trying to ensure that the team succeeds.

What are you most proud of from this tournament so far?
First of all, our performance. We're playing really good hockey that is fun to watch, and it also shows what a skilled team we are. For example, we managed to outrun and defeat Canada, who usually comes loaded, and we showed that we are better prepared.

And what do you think of the atmosphere?
It's always great, a lot of people have been coming and I expect there will be many more on Sunday. The atmosphere will be incredible.

Who is your biggest rival?
If we're in the final with Canada, then definitely them. I started to notice it on the second day when they beat Slovakia quite confidently. We were watching it and at that moment, we said to ourselves that they would be our biggest obstacle. We're happy that we were able to beat them, and we can get it into our heads that we are the stronger team.

What is your motivation for the final?
I always want to beat Canada because that's a team that I've not been successful against for a long time. We also played a U16 game with this year's team in Zlín, and Canada beat us in the semi-final in overtime.

Do you see any differences between European and North American ball hockey?
There's probably not a big difference in terms of play, but we saw that Canada tries to break us down more mentally. They want to talk to us before and during the game.

You beat both North American teams by a relatively large margin. Do you think that the Czech ball hockey league is one of the best in the world?
Definitely, but it's very difficult when you come to the World Championship. It is played in an ice arena, which has a larger playing surface. You can't play it the same way as in the league, where we play on a rink a few meters smaller and physical fitness is not as visible as in the World Championship.

Have you always played ball hockey, or did you get into it later?
I started playing field hockey in elementary school, but when I was eight, I switched to ball hockey. We won the school tournament and I stayed with it.

And ice hockey never appealed to you?
I was more interested in football; skating was never my strong point, so it didn't work out.

In the Czech Republic, you play for Hostivař, with whom you became a league champion for the first time this year. How do you evaluate the season in retrospect?
It wasn't exactly the best season in terms of playing. Last year, it was better, but unfortunately, we ruined it ourselves in the fifth and decisive game. I think that this year, there was a desire and belief that we could make up for last year.

You are well-coordinated in the team with Samuel Kucharčík, who is missing from this tournament. That must be unfortunate for you.
Of course, it's really a shame. Sam and I are great friends, we've played together since we were little, but I know what his situation is. I completely respect that he turned down the invitation to the national team due to health problems and the workload, because he started combining it with university hockey. I understand that he wanted to rest.

Jan Čejka during the match against United Nations. Photo: Vojtěch Zajíc

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