What an amazing 2024 IIHF World Championships! The host nation, Czechia, won the gold medal in front of their home fans in Prague. Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak scored the game-winning goal as David Kampf sealed the deal with an empty netter to win the gold medal for Switzerland. The event was going on, and it's not over yet.
The World Championships are always exciting, but this year's event has added meaning, as the Four-Nations Cup will take place in February 2025 and the Olympics with the participation of the NHL in 2026.
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After the Czech Republic won the gold medal, David Pastrnak had words that echoed throughout the hockey world.
On his Instagram, he posted a photo of a cup with the caption, “Maybe Four Nations Invite Now?”
Pastrnak is sending a message to the NHL and those who put this Four Nations Cup together that leaving out some of the best players in the world is not such a good idea. And he is not wrong. The best players must be there if we want the best International Hockey tournament.
Czechia has shown that they can beat the best players and teams in the world and they are getting better. Look at what Czechia did in 1998, winning Olympic Gold in the first year of NHL participation in the Olympics.
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The Four-Nations Cup will see the top four countries in the world in terms of talent in the USA, Canada, Finland, and Sweden battling it out in a mini-tournament to qualify for the 2026 Olympics.
Czechia was not included in the first quartet of teams, and Russia was not included. However, Sweden and Finland would not have done this if Russia had been involved. However, why wouldn't this tournament be based on the IIHF Rankings?
Remember that when the World Cup of Hockey took place, Czechia was always involved and was considered one of the best six to eight countries in the world of hockey. Their win at the 2024 IIHF World Championship proves that.
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David Pastrnak and every member of the gold-winning Czech team have every right to be angry. And this can be fixed. But we will have to wait for Pastrnak and Czechia to defend their title at the 2025 World Championships and see them play at the 2026 Olympics.
One thing is for sure: Pastrnak is wrong in his comments or posts. If this is the best hockey tournament, then Czechia should be in the Four-Nations Cup.
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