Popular Rangers rookie Chmelar scores 1st goal at IIHF World Championship
Monday in Switzerland, Jaroslav Chmelar provided the New York Rangers something more to think about when they consider their bottom-six forward options for next season.
Several of the 22-year-old’s best assets were on display when he scored his first goal for Czechia at the 2026 IIHF World Championship, albeit in a 4-1 loss to Norway. With Czechia trailing 2-0 late in the first period, Chmelar won a puck battle in the neutral zone against Norway’s Stian Stolberg. Chemlar then powered over the blue line, leaving three Norway players in his jet stream, weaved to his right, drew another defender toward him, and then ripped a tracer over the blocker of goaltender Henrik Houkeland.
Simply, it was a pretty goal for Chmelar, who now has two points (goal, assist) in six games at the Worlds. And it continues a solid second pro campaign for Chmelar, who scored four goals and totaled six points in his first 28 NHL games with the Rangers this past season, ending it as a regular on the fourth line.
He also had 25 points (eight goals, 17 assists) and 42 penalty minutes playing a top-six role in 46 games with Hartford of the American Hockey League.
The rugged forward, who’s one of five Rangers participating in the World Championship, should be well positioned to battle the likes of Matt Rempe, Adam Edstrom, and his good friend Adam Sykora for a bottom-six spot on Broadway next fall, after earning coach Mike Sullivan’s trust the final couple months of the 2025-26 season.
Speaking of Sykora, he and Chmelar squared off in the World Championship prelims in a major rivalry game Saturday. Czechia defeated Slovakia 3-2, though neither Rangers youngster landed on the score sheet. Chmelar recorded two shots on goal in 11:52 TOI; Sykora took a first-period high-sticking minor penalty, had one shot on goal, and was on ice for a pair of Czechia goals and one for Slovakia, logging 14:36 TOI.
Sykora doesn’t have a point and is plus-1 in six games for Slovakia, which closes preliminary round play Tuesday against Sweden. Czechia is now tied with Norway (13 points each) for second place in Group B, behind Canada (17 points), who they play Tuesday.
Rangers defensemen Borgen, Vaakanainen also taking part in Worlds
Rangers defenseman Will Borgen has one assist and an even rating for the United States through six games. Team USA hammered Hungary 7-3 on Monday, and close out prelim play Tuesday against Austria. The U.S. is 2-1-0-3 (eight points) currently fifth in Group A.
Urho Vaakanainen, another Rangers defenseman, had one assist in the first three games for Finland, which is undefeated in six games, so far, and tied for first with host Switzerland in Group A preliminary-round action. Those two teams face off on Tuesday.
However, Vaakanainen hasn’t played in the three most recent games for Finland, after leaving their 6-2 win against the United States on May 18 with an unspecified issue. He logged 5:36 in the first period against the U.S., but didn’t return.
Rangers prospects Mikkel Eriksen recorded one shot on goal and logged only 6:38 TOI in Norway’s win against Czechia on Monday. The 18-year-old forward is pointless, has two penalty minutes, and is minus-1 in five games at the Worlds.
