Czechia has announced its roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, featuring NHL stars like David Pastrnak and Tomas Hertl. The team aims to secure its first gold medal since 1998, marking the return of NHL players to the Olympics after a 12-year absence. They will open against Canada in Group A on February 12.
Czechia roster highlights
Czechia revealed its 25-player roster on Tuesday for the upcoming Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina, Italy, set for February 11-22, 2026. The selection, led by head coach Radim Rulik, emphasizes players from the gold-medal-winning 2024 IIHF World Championship team, with exceptions including Tomas Hertl and Radek Faksa.
The forward group of 14 includes Boston Bruins stars David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha, expected to anchor the top line alongside veteran Roman Cervenka of Dynamo Pardubice, who is likely to serve as captain. Cervenka, turning 40 in December, leads the Czech Extraliga with 43 points in 30 games. Other notable forwards are Martin Necas (Colorado Avalanche), Ondrej Palat (New Jersey Devils), and Dominik Kubalik (EV Zug). Dallas Stars forward Radek Faksa expressed excitement, stating, "It was a childhood dream to play in the Olympics." He recalled the 1998 Nagano gold as a pivotal moment for Czech hockey.
The defense comprises eight players, highlighted by Anaheim Ducks' Radko Gudas and Vancouver Canucks' Filip Hronek, who will handle heavy minutes. Youngster David Spacek (Iowa Wild) brings recent international success, while veterans like Michal Kempny (Brynas IF) add experience. The unit may face challenges against elite NHL talent, potentially marking it as the team's weakest area.
Goaltending features Anaheim Ducks' Lukas Dostal as the top option, fresh off a stellar 2024 Worlds performance with two shutouts en route to gold. Karel Vejmelka (Utah Mammoth) and Dan Vladar (Philadelphia Flyers) provide depth, with Vejmelka boasting 17 wins in the NHL this season.
In Group A, Czechia faces Canada on February 12, France on February 13, and Switzerland on February 15. The tournament format includes preliminary round-robin games, with top teams advancing to quarterfinals and the gold-medal game on February 22. Czechia seeks to build on bronzes from 2006 and 2018.
