Team Czech head coach Alois Hadamczik has resigned after his country’s sixth-place finish in Sochi, according to multiple reports out of Europe.
Questions surrounded the Czech Republic’s Olympic team from the moment the roster was named, and immediately following the conclusion of the 2014 Winter Games, Hadamczik has walked away from the mess.
Hadamczik, 61, led his country to a bronze medal at Torino 2006 and three world championship medals (silver in 2006, bronze in 2011 and 2012), but the Czech Republic underachieved by most standards.
When standout Czech players from the NHL, including Jiri Hudler, Radim Vrbata and Tomas Fleischmann, failed to make their nation’s Olympic roster, the selection committee was criticized. And when Hadamczik didn’t dress his only NHL goaltender, Ondrej Pavelec, in the Czechs’ 4-2 tournament-opening loss to Team Sweden, the coach came under fire.
Hadamczik was also criticized for giving 42-year-old ex-NHLer Petr Nedved more ice time than speedy forwards such as Ales Hemsky, 30, and Ondrej Palat, 22.
The coach gave heavy minutes to Michal Barinka, a 29-year-old playing in the Czech league. Since Barinka is also Hadamczik’s son-in-law, the coach’s critics charged him with favouritism.
Hadamczik first served as the national men’s ice hockey coach from 2006 to 2008 before being replaced by Vladimir Ruzicka in 2009. He resumed the role of bench boss in 2011.
The Czechs finished the 2014 Olympic tournament with two wins and three losses, bowing out to Team USA 5-2 in the quarterfinals.
