Ice hockey is a sport full of intensity and speed that took North America and Europe by storm. A ballet of brutal elegance, where players glide across the ice, displaying both raw power and masterly finesse.
A sport that grips the soul and fills arenas with euphoric cheers and gasps of near misses. From dizzying speeds to the sounds of pucks and bodies crashing into the boards, to the gracefulness of a perfectly executed shot, ice hockey is a truly beautiful game. Few people got to experience that beauty from a closer look than Vladimir Martinec, assistant coach of the Czech National Ice Hockey Team that made history at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano.
Let’s rewind to Sunday, February 22nd, 1998. It’s 5:45 a.m., and the hockey nation is watching what would later be referred to as the tournament of the century — the Ice Hockey Final at the Nagano Winter Olympics.
Five years have passed since the formation of the Czech Republic as we know it today, little over eight years since the Velvet Revolution that has granted Czechoslovakia freedom from the Soviet Union and the communist rule that has lasted over four decades.
It’s the first Olympic tournament to feature NHL stars. Jaromír Jágr, Dominik Hašek and Petr Svoboda are some of the names standing between Russia and an Olympic gold.
A Coach’s Perspective
Regarded as the country’s best hockey player of the 20th century, Vladimír Martinec recalls the behind-the-scenes moments of the tournament. “These were our best players. They only needed a little bit of guidance – they already knew everything. They understood the game.
“It was just a small nudge to help things click.”
And click it did.
In the 49th minute, Petr Svoboda’s shot found the back of the net and set off the nationwide celebrations. The score: 1–0. And it stayed that way until the final buzzer.
“Hockey players and fans know how to celebrate. Everyone took advantage of the moment. The euphoria in the country was powerful,” says Martinec.
Throughout the tournament, the Czech team’s dressing room was filled with good-luck notes sent from home. They knew the entire nation had rallied behind them, but no one could have anticipated what awaited them upon their return.
“The joy, the euphoria was not fake, it was genuine, it came from the heart,” remembers Martinec. “And you need to enjoy it and realise it’s a once in a lifetime experience.”
After a presidential welcome at Prague Castle, the team made their way to Old Town Square, which was bursting at the seams with fans from across the country, all cheering for the golden boys from Nagano.
Rarely have Czechs felt as united as they did in that moment, and the memory of Nagano still resonates today.
“It was a joy,” reflects Martinec. “When you’re living through that historic moment, you think, ‘Will this happen ever again?’”
What followed was an historic run of three consecutive World Championship gold medals, with Vladimir Martinec serving as assistant coach for all of them.
The Next Chapter
In Spring 2024, the Czech Republic hosted the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. The national team’s performance in the preliminary round was solid, but in the playoffs, something clicked.
At that point, the whole country lived and breathed ice hockey once again. People who haven’t watched a single game in years were glued to the screens, filling parks and town squares to cheer on their team.
In the semi-final game, the Czechs faced Sweden, a team that had only conceded 7 goals throughout the tournament and were yet to lose a game. That’s when the magic began. The number seven proved to be unlucky for the Swedish team this time around, as the Czech team stormed to a stunning 7-3 victory and advanced to the Gold medal game.
Ice hockey was everywhere again. The excitement in the country was palpable – people wearing the national jersey, homes and businesses draped in Czech flags.
“Home fans are different. It wasn’t like that in Japan,“ says Martinec, who was at the final.
“I could feel it. The energy. The enthusiasm.”
While fans from around the world were present, it was the sea of Czech supporters that dominated the stands, their voices united in unwavering support of their national team.
The final game was scoreless through the first two periods, until the NHL star, David Pastrňák scored the game-winning goal. The time on the clock? 49:13. A moment very reminiscent of Nagano.
“You could see the euphoria, how the crowd lifted the players, how the atmosphere pushed them towards victory. It was unlike anything else,” noted Martinec.
“It was all connected. The team played incredibly well, the fans cheered with everything they had, and the happiness in the country was infectious. It really brought people together.”
As the 2025 Ice Hockey World Championship approaches, the Czech Republic will once again rally behind their team, hoping for another moment that captures the magic of Nagano.
As the 2025 Ice Hockey World Championship starts on March 9th in Sweden and Denmark, the Czech Republic will once again rally behind their team, hoping for another moment that captures the magic of Nagano.
