Bruins’ David Pastrnak Headlines Czechia’s Winter Olympics Roster

With just one month to go until the 2026 Winter Olympic Games officially commence, national hockey teams from across the globe have been unveiling their rosters for the event. Team Czechia is no different, as the country of just under 11 million people is sending a potent group seeking to win the gold medal for the first time since 1998.

That’s not to say that Czechia has lacked success at the Olympic Games. In 2006 — an Olympics that was also in Italy — the team won the bronze. It also finished fourth in 2018, accomplishing the feat without the aid of NHL talent. Outside of the Olympics, Czechia has been quite successful. It won the 2024 IIHF World Championship two years ago in Prague, with 19 of the 25 players on the Olympic roster helping lead it to that title.

Representing Czechia at the #MilanoCortina2026 #WinterOlympics... 🇨🇿 pic.twitter.com/00bqegJDq5
— NHL (@NHL) January 6, 2026

Czechia’s roster, while not filled to the brim with NHL players, does have its fair share of formidable forces. Headlining the group is Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak, who, like many of his fellow countrymen, will be participating in the Olympics for the first time in his career. Other key pieces include Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas, Vegas Golden Knights forward Tomas Hertl and Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas.

Star Power Leads Deep Czech Forward Group

Dec 31, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Martin Necas (88) controls the puck in the second period against the St. Louis Blues at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

For a team like Czechia, having a forward group with as much talent as this one does is an impressive feat. Pastrnak and Necas are the obvious leaders of the bunch, but don’t count out other stalwarts like Hertl, Bruins center Pavel Zacha and veteran Dallas Stars center Radek Faksa — someone who has been consistently reliable for large swaths of his career. The other two NHL forwards on the roster are Vancouver Canucks center David Kampf and New Jersey Devils left wing Ondrej Palat.

A key omission from the roster was Canucks center Filip Chytil, who suffered a concussion in mid-October and has yet to fully recover.

Defense Relies on Mix of NHL, European Talent

Jan 2, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek (17) handles the puck against the Seattle Kraken in overtime at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images | Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Unlike the forwards, the defensemen who will be representing Team Czechia do not come en masse from the NHL. Only Gudas and Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek are from the league. It will be up to those two to anchor the unit in its pursuit of a medal.

But should one of Michal Kempny, Tomas Kundratek, Jan Rutta, Radim Simek, David Spacek or Jiri Tichacek make a big play when the lights are at their brightest, then the storybook ending that Team Czechia is looking for might just come true.

Dostal Tapped as Czechia’s Primary Goaltender

Jan 2, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal (1) looks on during a national anthem prior to a game against the Minnesota Wild at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Ducks netminder Lukas Dostal, who has had stretches this season that bordered on brilliance and others not as much, is slated to be Czechia’s main goalie throughout the tournament, though his decline in performance this season might make the leash a bit short (3.22 GAA, .887 save percentage). Utah Mammoth keeper Karel Vejmelka and Philadelphia Flyers goalie Dan Vladar are the other two who will man the posts for Czechia during the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

The puck drops on Czechia’s pursuit of its first Olympic medal since 2006 on Feb. 12, when the team faces off against Team Canada. It will then play France on Feb. 13 before matching up with Switzerland on Feb. 15 to round out the group stage.

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