Radim Mrtka’s 2026 World Junior Championship journey nearly ended before it even began. Just minutes into Czechia’s first pre-tournament game against Latvia on December 19, the towering 6-foot-6 defenseman-selected ninth overall in the 2025 NHL Draft-suffered a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the opening stretch of the tournament.
He missed Czechia’s first two games, including a wild 7-5 loss to Canada that featured four lead changes. But Mrtka would get his shot at redemption-and he made it count when the lights were brightest.
“I think I could play with it, but it just could only get worse,” Mrtka said. “I’m glad the coach gave me the confidence back to join them during the tournament.
And it was great. I was feeling good afterwards.”
Once he returned, the Czech coaching staff managed his minutes carefully. Mrtka logged between 17 and 18 minutes across his first four games, gradually working his way back into form. It wasn’t easy-missing key pre-tournament reps and practices made it tough to find his rhythm-but Mrtka’s presence on the ice became increasingly impactful as the stakes rose.
Czechia picked up momentum with gritty group-stage wins over Finland-decided in a dramatic 2-1 overtime finish-and Latvia, where Mrtka finished with a plus-2 rating. By the time the quarterfinals rolled around, Czechia was rolling, dispatching Switzerland 6-2 to earn a semifinal rematch with powerhouse Canada.
Canada came into that semifinal loaded with talent: Porter Martone, Michael Hage, Zayne Parekh, and top 2026 draft prospect Gavin McKenna were all in the lineup. And just like their earlier meeting, the game turned into a back-and-forth thriller. The lead changed hands twice before Mrtka delivered one of the tournament’s defining moments.
With just 1:14 left in regulation, Mrtka fired a crisp seam pass to Adam Benak, who then found Tomas Poletin for the go-ahead goal. That sequence sealed a stunning upset and sent Czechia to the gold medal game-eliminating Canada for the third straight year.
“It was just amazing to beat them three times in a row,” Mrtka said. “It’s an outstanding feeling, and I hope we’re going to continue that.”
The win electrified fans back home in Czechia and guaranteed the country its fourth straight World Juniors medal. But the group had its eyes on something more: gold. Standing in their way was a deep and talented Swedish squad led by Jack Berglund, Anton Frondell, and Ivar Stenberg.
Sweden jumped out to a 3-0 lead late in the third, but Czechia didn’t fold. They clawed back to make it 3-2 before Stenberg’s empty-netter sealed a 4-2 win and the gold for Sweden. For Mrtka and his teammates, it was a tough pill to swallow-but also a signal of how far Czechia has come.
“That's the game we want to play and you just take everything you can from that type of game,” Mrtka said.
Czechia is no longer the underdog. They’ve earned their place among the tournament’s elite-alongside traditional powerhouses like Canada, Sweden, Finland, and the U.S.-and Mrtka is a big reason why.
Known for his smooth skating and offensive instincts, Mrtka had to simplify his game due to the injury. But even in a more conservative role, he remained a key contributor. He was deployed in all situations-power play, penalty kill, and five-on-five-on a blueline that featured high-end talent like Adam Jiricek, Jakub Fibigr, and Tomas Galvas.
His experience across all levels of the game has prepared him for these moments. From NHL preseason action with the Sabres, to time with the AHL’s Rochester Americans, to his current role with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds, Mrtka has been building toward this stage.
He’s no stranger to international competition either. With U17 and U18 tournaments already under his belt, Mrtka has become a cornerstone of Czechia’s rising generation, alongside names like Benak, Poletin, Vojtech Cihar, and top prospect Adam Novotny-all of whom are eligible to return next year.
And yes, he’s already thinking about 2027-when the tournament heads to Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta. The goal?
Gold. And maybe, just maybe, another shot at Canada.
“It always gives you motivation when you lose in the final,” Mrtka said. “For next tournament, I’m really excited, and hopefully we’ll just finish with a gold one.”