'Build Him A Statue': Czechia's Eduard Sale Plays Hero To Win World Juniors Bronze Over Sweden

OTTAWA - Czechia coach Patrik Augusta knew what was on the line for captain Eduard Sale as his team entered the shootout against Sweden to settle the bronze medal winner.

Before the game, he told his young captain he had a chance to become the first Czech player to win three world junior medals in a row. So when a shootout was needed after overtime, Augusta wanted Sale the own the spotlight.

“And now, maybe they can build him a statue,” Augusta said.

Augusta threw Sale out onto the ice five times in the 14-round shootout, with one of his attempts being a score-or-go-home attempt after Swedish sniper Otto Stenberg scored on one of his three attempts to throw the heat on Czechia.

“The biggest pressure on me was when Sweden scored a goal and I need(ed) to score then,” Sale said.

It was far from a sure thing — he didn’t score on his first three attempts.

“I think the goalie was ready for me (on his first three attempts) because I had like two moves on the backhand side, so I didn't do that in this shootout. Every team has video, so they were ready, and I just try to change a little bit,” Sale said of his fourth attempt.

He didn’t disappoint. He outwaited Swedish goaltender Marcus Gidlof and slid the puck through his legs to extend the game.

“After I scored a goal… I was very comfortable,” Sale said.

After Otto Stenberg struck iron for Sweden on his next shot, the stage was set for Sale, the Seattle Kraken's first-round pick in 2023.

“It was crazy,” Sale said. “I'm happy I just scored the last goal, so it's done now and we can celebrate.”

The 19-year-old’s teammates knew Sale, who scored earlier in the game to grant Czechia a 2-1 lead, was the right player for the moment. He finished the tournament with six goals and eight points in seven games.

“He's a player you want to have on your team, not against,” goaltender Michael Hrabal said. “He's an important goal-scorer, so the whole tournament, he showed how good he is.

“It’s incredible, so I'm happy for him, and the NHL is waiting for him.”

Augusta acknowledged that a little bit of puck luck was instrumental in securing a third-straight world junior medal for Czechia.

“You need a lot of luck to win it, and Sweden for sure weren't a worse team than us, just the luck came our way, and I'm really happy for our players,” Augusta said.

As for the captain, who just played his final world juniors, Sale said the third medal of his young career carries significance for his entire nation.

Czechia ran through top nations Canada and Sweden and put up a fight against powerhouse USA on its way to the bronze. Czechia was an underdog the entire way through, but after preventing Canada and Sweden from medalling this year, they've more than proven their worth on the world stage.

“It's something special,” Sale said. “We are a small country, so for us, it's something big.”

Related: Czechia Rebuilt Its World Juniors Contender Status — And Developed A Rivalry With Canada

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