At least one member of the Regina Pats will be competing in the 2022 world junior hockey championship.
Pats defenceman Stanislav Svozil has been named to the Czech Republic entry for the tournament, which is set for Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Edmonton and Red Deer.
While Svozil is guaranteed a spot, Pats centre Connor Bedard will have to earn his position on Canada’s team. Bedard has left Regina to attend Canada’s selection camp in Calgary.
Svozil played for the Czech Republic in the 2021 world junior tournament, recording one point in five games.
“I’m excited so much because playing for your country is the best feeling,” Svozil said in a media release. “I’m excited for it and I hope we can get some good results …
“Last year I was (one of) the youngest guys on the team and that was a good experience for me. This year, I will (have) more confidence than last year.”
The Czech Republic is to compete in Group A with Austria, Canada, Finland and Germany. The Czechs open the preliminary round Dec. 26 against Canada, the team that eliminated the Czechs in a 2021 quarterfinal.
Svozil is fourth on the Pats in scoring this season with 15 points in 24 games, and ranks third in the WHL in assists by rookies with 14.