The LA Kings have loaned defenseman Jakub Dvořák from the Ontario Reign to Czechia’s National Junior Team for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Dvořák, 19, will represent Team Czechia at the tournament which runs from Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Ottawa, Ontario. More information about the event can found at iihf.com.

A native of Liberec, Czechia, Dvořák has appeared in 14 games with the Reign in his first North American professional season, recording three assists.

Selected in the second round (54th overall) of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft by Los Angeles, Dvořák played professionally in his home country for the Bílí Tygři Liberec before coming to North America last season and suiting up for the Swift Current Broncos in the Western Hockey League (WHL). In total, his pro career has included 57 games and eight points (2-6=8). 

Prior to being chosen by the Kings in the NHL Draft, Dvořák represented his home country at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he posted two points in five outings.

Czechia will kick off round robin tournament play on Thursday, Dec. 26 against Switzerland before facing Kazakhstan on Saturday, Dec. 28, going up against Slovakia on Sunday, Dec. 29 and closing their opening round schedule on Tuesday, Dec. 31 vs. Sweden.

Other members of this year’s Reign roster that have previously played in the World Junior Championship event include Canada’s Joe Hicketts (2015, 2016), Charles Hudon (2014) and Jack Studnicka (2019), Finland’s Samuel Helenius (2021, 2022), Slovakia’s Martin Chromiak (2021), Sweden’s Samuel Fagemo (2019, 2020), Jacob Moverare (2018) and Erik Portillo (2020) and Caleb Jones (2017), Arthur Kaliyev (2020, 2021) and Tyler Madden (2019) with the United States.

The Reign are back on home ice Sunday afternoon for a battle against the San Jose Barracuda at 5 p.m. The game will feature a unique promotion, as the team will be playing with a rebranded name and look as the Ontario Rain.

Tickets for all Reign home games are available to purchase through axs.com and ontarioreign.com.

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