There’s strength in numbers. For the Czech men’s hockey team, that strength is their netminders, not the slim pool of players from which they select them.

Their first big test will be taking on the powerhouse Canadian team Thursday morning.

To do what Dominik Hašek and Jaromir Jagr did in 1998, shock the world and win Olympic gold, the Czech’s need superb goaltending from Lukas Dostál, Karel Vejmelka, and Dan Vladar, each capable of getting hot at the right time for a real tournament run.

While bereft of a Hart Trophy winner and a multi-time Vezina winner, the legacy of those games is consistently on television for Czech natives. Out of the gates against Canada, Gretzky won’t be left on the bench, but this 2026 group is still preparing for the hardest game of their lives.

“They came, and we still were able to beat them. It’s one of the nicest Czech sports history events. Everybody remembers it,” said assistant captain Radko Gudas. “Even people that weren’t born yet, they saw the games. It’s still sometimes on TV in Czech, and it’s one of the proudest moments for Czech hockey world.”

The big names

Offensively, the charge is led by 29-year-old David Pastrňák, who is a top-10 talent in the NHL, and the most dangerous weapon in a well-rounded top-six. Pastrňák produced three consecutive 100-point seasons (106, 110, 113), a 60-goal season in 2022-23, along with a Rocket Richard Trophy in 2019-20.

Fellow X-Factor Martin Necas is on a 95-point pace this season, after scoring 83 points last year.

Tomas Hertl rounds out the most dynamic talent upfront. He’s putting together another fine season with the Vegas Golden Knights, with 22 goals and 49 points in 57 games this year.

The team will surely miss Pavel Zacha, whose injury on January 30 officially kept him from the tournament, Czechia confirmed over the weekend.

Only 26 Czechs have played in the NHL this season, and eight of them are goalies, nearly 10 per cent of all NHL goaltenders.

That’s felt most deeply on the blueline.

Vancouver Canucks mainstay Filip Hronek is going to be the defensive workhorse, averaging a career high of 24:26 of ice-time per night.

Along with Gudas, Minnesota wild prospect David Špaček is the only other defender who’s played NHL games this season.

‘Couldn’t be more excited’

The last Olympics were a disaster for Czechia’s men’s hockey team.

With no NHL players at the tournament, Czechia finished behind the Russian Olympic Committee and Denmark, before a loss to Switzerland in the knockout stage placed them ninth.

Simply put, it was their worst result since splintering from the former Czechoslovakia, despite featuring some experienced hands like David Krejci. However, since then, there’s been redemption in a 2024 World Championships gold.

Sitting on the sidelines of the 4 Nations, anticipation grew in Czech ranks.

“It was beautiful to watch that hockey,” Dostál told The Athletic about 4 Nations. “I couldn’t be more excited to do my best and to be a part of the team.”

Famously, the Czechs have had Canada’s number with under-20s, leading to a certain sense of rivalry, particularly as national pride swells with the World Juniors team’s silver at the 2026 tournament.

Ironically, Canada and Czechia’s biggest historical rivals, Russia, are not included in the tournament.

Is this a new rivalry in the making?

“Our first game against Team Canada is going to be one of the biggest challenges for us, so we got to be ready,” said defenseman Radko Gudas, following practice on Wednesday.

“We have to have our feet going from minute No. 1.”

Červenka’s chemistry

This is Gudas’ second Olympics, but his dad, Leo, has the better pedigree so far. Leo won bronze at the 1992 Albertville Olympics with Czechoslovakia when Radko was one year old.

His leadership, along with 40-year-old Roman Červenka, is being leaned on. Currently a member of HC Dynamo Pardubice, the ageless-wonder Červenka is the captain of the team, about to play in his fifth Olympics.

He scored nine goals and 17 points in 39 games during the 2012-13 lockout-shortened season with the Calgary Flames, his lone year in the NHL. Starting as a pro in 2003, he’s played in the KHL, Swiss, and Czech leagues as well.

Pastrňák’s chemistry with Červenka was one of the biggest stories of the most recent World Championships.

Can they rekindle that magic?

International history

Olympic history:

2022 Beijing: 9th
2018 PyeongChang: 4th
2014 Sochi: 6th
2010 Vancouver: 7th
2006 Turin: Bronze
2004 World Cup: Bronze* (best on best)
2002 Salt Lake City: 7th
1998 Nagano: Gold

World Championships:

2025: 6th
2024: Gold
2023: 8th
2022: Bronze
2021: 7th

Notes:

Former Edmonton Oiler David Tomášek is expected to play on the third line. After five points in 22 games with the Oilers, he has 11 points in 11 games since returning home.
Dominik Kubalik once score 30 goals in a season with the Chicago Blackhawks, but left the NHL after the 2023-24 season to play in the Swiss-A League.
Jan Rutta won back-to-back Stanley Cups on the blueline with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 35-year-old defenceman last played with the San Jose Sharks in 2024-25 before returning to Europe.
Michal Kempny has 247 NHL games under his belt.

Projected lines

Martin Necas-Tomas Hertl-David Pastrňák

Ondrej Palat-David Kampf-Ondrej Kase

Roman Červenka-Lukas Sedlak-David Tomášek

Matej Stransky-Radek Faksa-Dominik Kubalik

Radim Simek-Filip Hronek

Michal Kempny-Radko Gudas

Jan Rutta-David Špaček

Lukas Dostál*

Karel Vejmelka

Dan Vladar

*No starting goaltender has been announced.

Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and has been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, he also collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues.

ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365

Gameday Previews

News

Featured

Recent articles from Michael Menzies

Team Canada GM Armstrong on McDavid: ‘Gold means everything to Connor right now’

Pre-Scout: Czechia’s best chance to beat Canada is goaltending and David Pastrňák

Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl skates with former teammate Dominik Kahun for German Olympic team, Samanski to centre 3rd line