COPENHAGEN -- Detroit Red Wings prospect Libor Sulak scored the eventual game-winning goal on Friday night as Czech Republic defeated Belarus, 3-0, in the preliminary round of the 2018 IIHF World Championship at Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The 6-foot-2, 207-pound defenseman is relishing the opportunity to not only play for his country, but also continue to play competitive hockey this season.

"There is nothing better than to represent on your national team. It is the top, the best," Sulak said. "But after my season ended in Finland, I went to North America and I was injured and only played two games. So, I was happy to get the call and have the chance to play some more and continue to get better."

Sulak made his first appearance on the Czech national team at last year's world championship, playing in two games and earning an assist. Soon after, he signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Red Wings.

This season, he left his home country for the first time to play in Finland for the Lahti Pelicans of the Finnish Elite League where the 24-year-old earned nine goals and 23 assists for 32 points in 42 games - good enough for top two in the league in points per game by a defenseman and top five in the league in ice time, all while leading his team in plus-minus.

When his season was over in Finland, Sulak joined the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins for their playoff run to gain some experience on the smaller ice in North America.

Due to a groin injury and then a puck to the mouth that required 16 stitches to repair, he only played two games, but earned an assist in each.

Jiri Fischer, the Red Wings' director of player evaluation, is also the general manager of the Czech national team at the world championship.

He said Sulak has had a tough season but is growing through the challenges.

"There was a little bit of a disappointment when he didn't make the Olympic team and I know that was one of his goals before the season started, especially with the way he finished last year at the world championship," Fischer explained. "But, he finished the season strong. He's still a young player and he's only been playing at the highest level of European pro hockey for a year, but he's made a tremendous step in leaving home for the first time and playing in Finland and then coming to Grand Rapids and trying to fight for a job in the American League. Now he's here and played on the top pair in the first game against Slovakia and he's maintained that since. It's always fun to watch when guys get better and we hope he just keeps on going."

Czech Republic has two games remaining in the preliminary round - against France on Sunday and Austria on Monday - and presently sits in third in the Group A standings. The top four teams in each group advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday.

"I think it's good experience for me to be here," Sulak said. "It's the best players of the world, so it's really tough. Every team plays really good and every game is hard. It's a big challenge and makes me better."

Fischer said Sulak has a great inner drive and wants to make things happen on the ice, but it's his skating and ability to move the puck that makes him stand out.

"He really likes to carry the puck and move the puck, so the efficiency of his passing and the timing of his passing is going to be an adjustment for him when he bridges to North America for the full season where everything is smaller and there's less room," Fischer explained. "But his skating makes him special. Plus, he really has the ability to battle and use his physical strength and bump players off the puck and every game he shows that he can break up the cycle, which every coach wants him to do."

Sulak is focused on being ready to make the jump to North America next season and wants to push for a spot on the Red Wings blue line during training camp.

"I want to be a two-way defenseman in the NHL and have a good first pass and a good shot," he said. "I have to be ready in main camp. The ice is so much bigger here. I want to get to Detroit early so I can prepare and practice with the guys there and play better on the smaller ice. Everything is quicker and you have to make decisions faster. There's a lot more shooting and lots of battles.

"I have to be ready and playing at this level is challenging me and helping me get there."