Eagles Milota attending U18 Worlds with Czechia
Cape Breton Eagles rookie goaltender Jakub Milota will play with team Czechia at the U18 World Hockey Championships this week in Finland.
Due to contractual conditions within his QMJHL contract, the 18-year-old was obligated to compete for his home country, despite the Eagles current playoff run which enters game one of the third round tonight in Baie-Comeau, QC.
“It is a partnership with IIHF and the CHL where we had no choice but to let him go to his club in Czechia. It was tough…but he had no decision really…however we wish him the best of luck” said Eagles head coach Louis Robitaille on Thursday morning in Baie-Comeau.
The Eagles have called up Dartmouth Steele Subaru goaltender Brandon Lavoie to act as the Eagles backup in their third round series against the Drakkar. Lavoie, a 2023 8th round draft choice by the Eagles, has been practicing with the team’s taxi squad since the beginning of the second round and was recently named the the Top Goaltender at the U18 Major Atlantic tournament earlier this month.
Robitaille said Milota will return to the Eagles lineup for the league final following the conclusion of the world championships.
In his first game with Czechia, Milota made a 17-save shutout to defeat team Switzerland on Thursday.
The entire Eagles organization would like to wish Jakub goodluck throughout the tournament this week.