After a narrow and heartbreaking 4-3 overtime defeat against Canada in the quarterfinals, the Czech hockey team flew back to Prague, grappling with their disappointment. The team faced the challenge of processing what could have been a significant upset, which would have brought them their first Olympic medal since earning bronze in Turin in 2006. Players like Michal Kempný and Lukáš Sedlák expressed their lingering regrets and the emotional toll the game had taken, highlighting that the weight of the loss is still fresh in their minds.

The team's journey back was noticeably somber, with key NHL players absent from the flight, except for injured Radek Faksa. Captain Roman Červenka was returning independently, while Dominik Kubalík and Matěj Stránský traveled back to their clubs in Switzerland. This underscores the sense of disconnection and the emotional burden carried by the players, who had envisioned a medal run but fell short against a favored Canadian squad.

Head coach Radim Rulík noted improvements throughout the tournament but lamented that their best effort came too late in the competition. The loss served as a painful reminder of how competitive international hockey can be, and for the Czech squad, the road to recovery will take time as they reflect on the missed opportunities against one of the sport's giants. The performance, despite the loss, can serve as a foundation for future tournaments, but for now, the focus remains on overcoming this disappointment.