For NHL players, winning the Stanley Cup is the ultimate dream, but securing a gold medal at the 2024 IIHF World Championship on home ice is a close second. This dream came true for Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak when Czechia defeated Switzerland 2-0 on Sunday, May 26, to win the gold. Pastrnak was instrumental in Czechia’s victory.
“This is always so special. The tournament was at home, and I’ve never played at home,” Pastrnak said after the win.
The gold medal was a bright spot following a disappointing playoff run for the Bruins. They had a tough seven-game series against the Toronto Maple Leafs before losing in the second round to the Florida Panthers. Just a week after their playoff exit, Pastrnak broke the scoreless tie in the gold medal game, scoring with 10:47 left in the third period. The sold-out Prague Arena erupted in celebration. Pastrnak was joined by other Czech NHL players, including Pavel Zacha and Lukas Dostal, in the victory.
Czechia, ranked eighth in the world, hadn’t won a gold medal since 2010. They have secured bronze three times in recent years (2011, 2012, 2022). This gold medal marks their 13th all-time. The 2024 tournament saw record fan attendance, surpassing the previous record set in 2015, with 797,727 fans.
The gold medal game started with Czechia dominating the first period, outshooting Switzerland 13-7. The second period was more balanced, but both teams remained scoreless. In the third period, Pastrnak’s goal shifted momentum, and David Kampf secured the win with an empty-net goal with 19 seconds left. Dostal, named the tournament’s top goaltender, made 31 saves in the game.
Dostal (Anaheim Ducks) finished the tournament with a .929 save percentage and a 1.80 goals-against average, earning him a spot on the media all-star team. His teammate Radko Gudas praised him for his calm and confident play. Bruins players Pastrnak and Zacha each scored crucial goals, while other Czech players like Martin Necas (Carolina Hurricanes) and Dominik Kubalik (Ottawa Senators) contributed significantly throughout the tournament.
Switzerland, despite their strong performance, fell short of winning their first World Championship gold. Key players like Kevin Fiala (Los Angeles Kings) and Roman Josi (Nashville Predators) were named to the media all-star team, with Fiala earning MVP honors. The New Jersey Devils were well-represented with standout performances from Jonas Siegenthaler, Akira Schmid, and Nico Hischier.
Czechia’s victory on home ice was a historic moment, and for Pastrnak, winning gold in front of his home crowd was an unmatched experience. “We did it at home. We’ve been waiting for gold for a very long time and it couldn’t have come at a better time,” Pastrnak said.