Did you miss our updates from Czech? No worries - here is everything you missed
The Trip
The team started their adventure throughout Czechia by travelling to Chomutov. Here they had a training camp before the beginning of the Czech Open Tournament. The team having multiple trainings on the wonderful facilities that the Chomutov Floorball Club has, there were also two games played against the club, seeing the team fall short both times. However, a lot was learned from playing a team of that caliber. Playing in the second highest league in Czechia, Floorball Chomutov were a great matchup for the team, and proved to be very helpful moving into a tournament where the Cambridge team found themselves quite prepared for their tournament matches.
After spending time in Chomutov, making new friends and seeing the beautiful landscape surrounding them the team set their eyes on the Czech Open tournament. Looking to make history as the first and only Canadian team to ever compete in the tournament, the Cambridge guys were excited to see what Czech and the surrounding countries had to offer.
The Tournament
After what proved to be a very successful training camp, the team moved into the tournament firing on all cylinders. Boasting a lineup that had both international club and country experience, they were ready or anything that was thrown their way.
The first matchup of the tournament was against the eventual division winners, Nimble Old Men. This team, despite the name, was a team of ex-pro players and friends that have all played high level floorball for a large part of their lives. The team held their own losing 4-1 against them, before moving into their second game with a resounding 5-0 against a team from Latvia.
This meant that moving into their last game of the round robin, the Cambridge team had a chance to lock up 2nd place in their pool, and find themselves playing a fourth place team in another pool. The match was a tough, hard fought game that saw CFC come out victorious with a 4-2 win over a local Czech club, Sklo Bohemia Svetla. Highlights from the game can be found on our Youtube page HERE.
With that victory, the team finished in second place, and had a round of 64 playoff matchup against another Latvian team, which saw them win again 5-0.
The team, not only making history as the first all Canadian team to compete in the tournament, also being the last North American team standing as the lone American team lost in the round of 64, not advancing into the round of 32 as the Cambridge team did.
The round of 32 matchup would prove to the matchup of a century for the team. Going shot for shot with a first league Latvian team, Sk Slampe-Zevid. Full highlights can be found again on our Youtube Page, but with a late goal to tie the game at 3 a piece, SK Slampe, forced a three person shootout. This is where the tournament came to a close for the Cambridge team, as they fell 3-2 in the shootout.
The tournament was nothing but a resounding success for the team, as they not only grew on the court but off the court as well. The experience in one that many of the players will cherish, and look to use as they continue the mission of the Cambridge Floorball Club to grow the sport within our local region.
If you are interested in becoming apart of the Cambridge Floorball Club in any way, do not hesitate to follow us on social media, or shoot us an email and see how you can get involved in the near future.
Thank You
The team would like to express a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported them along the way. Without sponsors, and those attending fundraising events this trip would not have been possible, and we look forward to continuing the growth of floorball in our community in the coming months and years.
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