Kamloops Blazers defenceman Matteo Koci is coming back to North America with a World Juniors bronze medal.
The 18-year-old Koci was playing for his native Czechia, who beat Finland 8-5 to win their second medal in as many years.
The Czech’s scored six unanswered goals, including five in the third period, to overcome a 5-2 Finland lead enroute to winning bronze. Four of those third period goals came in a 50 second span, a new World Juniors record.
Czechia finished third in Group B with a 2-0-1-1 record. They beat Norway and Switzerland in regulation, and lost to Slovakia in regulation and the United States in a shootout.
Czechia then upset Canada 3-2 in the quarterfinals, before falling 5-2 to hosts Sweden in the semi-finals.
Koci – who was helping to scrape ice during the 2020 tournament in Ostrava – went scoreless with a plus-1 rating in Gothenburg, playing in a depth role for Czechia.
The six-foot defenceman, who has a goal and six assists in 28 games with the Blazers this season, is eligible to play in the 2025 World Juniors in Ottawa.
Former Blazers goaltender Michael Schnattinger was also part of Team Czechia this year, serving as the team’s third-choice goaltender.
Matteo is coming back with a medal 👀 Congrats on winning bronze! 🥉🤩 pic.twitter.com/k8gXWwHLqe
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) January 5, 2024
MÁME BRONZ! 🥉 #worldjuniors #narodnitym #ceskyhokej pic.twitter.com/NbMQ8LCLkK
— Český hokej (@czehockey) January 5, 2024
Matteo Koci (middle row of players, second from left) posing with the rest of Team Czechia after winning bronze at the 2024 World Juniors. (Photo via Chris Tanouye/IIHF)
