We knew that defense will be a problem but we did not expect it to be this big. In every game against favourites we literally gifted 3-5 goals, not mentioning our discipline in the last match.
Yesterday's game vs Finland Slovakia was really horrific i don't question that.
And what comes to those boneheaded penalties ( especially Sykora's 5+20 ) were absolutely brutal.
If coaching-staff cannot keep any discipline in the team then you have wrong coaching staff.
I don't know what a heck Slovakia's head coach were thinking when he thought that
over physicality and penalties will help Slovakia to win a game.
You cannot win international tournament if you sitting into penalty box most of the time in game.
There's smarter ways to win hockey games than taking idiotic penalties.
And sugar of the bottom was Adam Sykora.
What a hell he was thinking when he was kneeing Joakim Kemell.
That brainfart was enough dangerous to cause serious knee injury for a Kemell
which would've cost him rest of these U20 WJC's and possibly whole season in SM liiga.
Sykora will not get suspended now because Slovakia is out.
But in SM liiga that kneeing would've ended disciplinary investigation.
In SM liiga rulebook says that all 5+20 penalties goes to investigation
and if video referee sees suspension is needed then it is at least 5 games suspension immediately.
I truly hope that Sykora learns his lesson and next time he plays smarter.
When you're alternate captain and you have A in your jersey
that means you have to be a example for your teammates and lead your team with an example
but also it means that you cannot play like total idiot and do something
dangerous which can injure your opponent or have you ever seen leader player
like Barkov, McDavid, or Crosby taking boneheaded 5+20 penalties?.
I wish all the best for U20 Team Slovakia and come back stronger and better next U20 WJC's in December.
