NY Islanders' fourth-round pick has a night to remember in his first game of the World Junior Championship

Since being selected in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft by the NY Islanders, things have been on an upward trajectory for Tomas Poletin.

Shortly after the NHL Draft, Poletin was taken first overall by the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL, where he is playing the 2025-26 season, and is currently second among all rookies in goals with 14.

Now, part of his first World Junior Championship with Czechia, Poletin is off to a torrid start, scoring twice against the tournament favorites.

In the final game of the first day of play, the Czechs took on fellow Islanders prospect Kashawn Aitcheson and the Canadians - a game that has proven difficult for Canada over the last three years.

After Canada got out to a 1-0 lead, the Czechs knotted things up at one, on a picture-perfect redirection by Poletin that beat goaltender Carter George.

The game went back and forth into the third, but Zayne Parekh gave the Canadians a 4-3 advantage early in the third. Poletin soon evened the score once again, finding the puck in a scrum in front of the goal before hammering it home.

The Czechs ultimately fell to the Canadians 7-5.

Standing 6’1” and 205 lbs, Poletin is a load in front of goal, and in last night's game, he showed similarities to Islanders’ captain, Anders Lee. 

The Czechs have medaled in two of the last three WJC’s (two bronze, one silver), and by their play last night, led by Poletin, they have a strong chance to make it four straight.

The Czechs take on Switzerland tonight, looking to earn their first win of the tournament.