Czechia 4-1 Denmark: Kubalik Strikes Early in Zurich Win

Czechia beat Denmark in World Championship opener  

Dominik Kubalik opened the scoring as Czechia jumped to a 2-0 first-period lead. Roman Cervenka added a third before Denmark’s late goal and an empty-netter ended it 4-1.

Goaltender Josef Korenar marked his first cap with a win as Czechia beat Denmark 4-1. Denmark created chances in the second but couldn’t close the gap...

The Czech Republic made light work of a depleted Denmark side in their 2026 IIHF World Championship opener, running out 4-1 winners on Friday night. Denmark’s injury-hit squad struggled throughout, and the 2024 champions made them pay for every mistake.

Czechia got off to a fast start with two goals in the opening two minutes, setting the tone early.

Dominik Kubalik and Daniel Vozenilek struck early to put the Czechs in control. Veteran captain Roman Cervenka added his 34th World Championship goal in the third period. Mikkel Aagaard pulled one back late for Denmark, but Matej Blumel sealed it with an empty-netter to cap off a comfortable win.

Denmark came into the tournament in Switzerland without any of their NHL players, and were also missing two key defenders from last year’s squad. For Czechia, it was a first cap for goaltender Josef Korenar, who had a quiet start as Denmark struggled to create anything going forward.

Mads Sogaard had far more work to do at the other end as the Czech favorites moved 2-0 up midway through the first. Kubalik broke away and fired an unstoppable shot past Sogaard to open the scoring. Denmark still looked shaken from that early goal when Vozenilek made it two 70 seconds later, squeezing his shot inside the near post.

🇨🇿 @czehockey starts strong in Fribourg! 💪 #MensWorlds #IIHF

🔗 Game recap: https://t.co/e2Hff7n4xC pic.twitter.com/H3oVccoAEh

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 15, 2026

Denmark looked sharper in the second period. Nick Olesen, who plays in Czechia for Motor Ceske Budejovice, had a golden chance to pull one back when he was sent in alone on goal, but Korenar made a solid stop in the 27th minute. Despite creating better chances, Denmark couldn’t capitalize, and it was 40-year-old Roman Cervenka who struck next, pouncing on a scramble in front to make it 3-0 early in the third.

Here’s how the standings look after Day 1 at the 2026 #MensWorlds! 👀🏒 #IIHF pic.twitter.com/nWNo5tasqo

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 15, 2026

With five minutes left, Sogaard was pulled for an extra attacker, and Aagaard made it count to cut the deficit to 2. The celebration was short-lived though - Lukas Sedlak quickly set up Blumel for an empty-netter, sealing a 4-1 win for the Czechs.