Kari Jalonen, coach of the Czech national team, has been sacked after a poor result at the World Cup

PRAGUE –

Finnish coach Kari Jalonen has been sacked by the Czech Ice Hockey Federation after the national team’s poor result at the world championship last month.

Radim Rulik, who led the Czechs to the final of the Under-20 World Cup in Canada in January, was appointed new coach on Thursday.

Jalonen took charge in March 2022 on a two-year contract as the first foreigner in the post.

He led the team to the bronze medal at last year’s world championship, the Czech’s first podium at the tournament in 10 years.

This year, the team finished eighth, its worst result ever.

The Czech Republic will host next year’s World Cup and league president Alois Hadamczik said the coach could not assure the team’s performance will improve.