University of Massachusets Athletics
Massachusetts Hockey's Nestrašil Set To Begin IIHF World Junior Championships With Czechia
December 23, 2025 | Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS – University of Massachusetts freshman forward Václav Nestrašil has been selected to represent his home country of Czechia at the upcoming 2026 World Junior Championship in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Group play runs from December 26 to December 31 with the quarterfinal round set for January 2 and semifinals scheduled for January 4 before the tournament culminates with the Medal Round on January 5. Czechia is in Group B with Canada, Denmark, Finland and Latvia.
The first UMass freshman to hit the 20-point mark through 18 games in the past 20+ years, Nestrasil ended the first half of his rookie campaign second on the squad in scoring with 10 goals and 10 assists, five power-play markers and one game winner. The Prague native ranks tied for third nationally in freshman scoring.
Massachusetts hockey has been represented well at World Juniors during Greg Carvel's tenure at UMass with Minutemen earning roster spots at eight of the past nine IIHF World Junior Championships, including current sophomores goaltender Michael Hrabal and forward Daniel Jencko in 2025.
Hrabal earned Bronze with Czechia at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship and Kenny Connors and Ryan Ufko were Bronze medalists with the U.S. National Junior Team in 2023. Scott Morrow was named to the U.S. National Junior Team for the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship prior to its postponement. Zac Jones made the U.S. squad in 2020, goaltender Filip Lindberg captured a Gold medal at the 2019 tournament with Finland and Cale Makar won Gold with Canada at the 2018 World Junior Championship.
Other past WJC participants from UMass include Dans Locmelis (2024, Latvia), William Lagesson (2016, Sweden) and Stephen Werner (2004, USA). Werner was a Gold medal winner, as well. Director of Equipment Operations Josh Penn earned a Bronze medal on staff with Team USA in 2018.
Group play runs from December 26 to December 31 with the quarterfinal round set for January 2 and semifinals scheduled for January 4 before the tournament culminates with the Medal Round on January 5. Czechia is in Group B with Canada, Denmark, Finland and Latvia.
The first UMass freshman to hit the 20-point mark through 18 games in the past 20+ years, Nestrasil ended the first half of his rookie campaign second on the squad in scoring with 10 goals and 10 assists, five power-play markers and one game winner. The Prague native ranks tied for third nationally in freshman scoring.
Massachusetts hockey has been represented well at World Juniors during Greg Carvel's tenure at UMass with Minutemen earning roster spots at eight of the past nine IIHF World Junior Championships, including current sophomores goaltender Michael Hrabal and forward Daniel Jencko in 2025.
Hrabal earned Bronze with Czechia at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship and Kenny Connors and Ryan Ufko were Bronze medalists with the U.S. National Junior Team in 2023. Scott Morrow was named to the U.S. National Junior Team for the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship prior to its postponement. Zac Jones made the U.S. squad in 2020, goaltender Filip Lindberg captured a Gold medal at the 2019 tournament with Finland and Cale Makar won Gold with Canada at the 2018 World Junior Championship.
Other past WJC participants from UMass include Dans Locmelis (2024, Latvia), William Lagesson (2016, Sweden) and Stephen Werner (2004, USA). Werner was a Gold medal winner, as well. Director of Equipment Operations Josh Penn earned a Bronze medal on staff with Team USA in 2018.
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