Prague’s Old Town Square to screen IIHF hockey semifinal Czech Republic vs. Canada

For the first time since 2015, Prague residents and visitors will get a chance to catch the IIHF hockey world championship finals featuring the Czech National Team on the big-BIG screen at one of Prague’s most famous landmarks.

After defeating Germany 5-1 in semifinal action last night, the Czech Republic now heads into the IIHF World Championship semifinals on Saturday night, with an opening faceoff set for 19:15 in Bratislava.

In Prague, Czech hockey fans and visitors will get the unique chance to catch the game on an extra-large projection screen which is currently being erected at historic Prague landmark Old Town Square.

Regardless of the outcome of the game against Canada, the Czech Republic will be playing for a medal at this year’s IIHF World Championship.

Should the Czech team win tomorrow night against Canada, they’ll match up against Russia or Finland in a gold medal final; Russia, undefeated thus far in the IIHF worlds, is a heavy favorite in that game. Should the Czech team lose to Canada, they’ll face the loser of the Russia-Finland game to compete for a bronze medal.

The city of Prague has also confirmed a screening of the bronze or gold medal game with the Czech Republic at Prague’s Old Town Square on Sunday afternoon or evening.

While screenings of the IIHF finals in Prague’s Old Town Square were a common occurrence in the 2000s, given the performance of the Czech team in recent years fans haven’t had the same number of opportunities.

The last time Czech IIHF final games were screened in Old Town Square was 2014, when the Czech team lost to Finland in quarterfinal action before being topped by Sweden in the bronze medal game.

While the Czech Republic has a storied history in the IIHF World Championships – six gold medals in the country’s 26-year history – the team hasn’t placed above 4th since 2012, when they took home a bronze in Helsinki.

Previously, the Czech Republic won gold medals at the IIHF hockey Worlds in 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, and 2010. As part of Czechoslovakia, the team won another six gold medals from 1930-1992.