The hockey team, which is preparing for the World Cup in Finland, will be strengthened by four extra-league finalists – defenders Tomáš Kundrátek with David Musil from Třinec and Michal Moravčík with forward Filip Chlapík from Sparta.
On the other hand, goalkeeper Petr Kváča, defenders Vojtěch Budík, Jakub Jeřábek, Lukáš Kaňák, Richard Nedomlel and Libor Šulák and forward Ondřej Beránek, Petr Fridrich, Jan Hladonik, Adam Klapka, Pavel Kousal and Patrik Zdráhal will not take part in the final preparation phase after today’s cuts.
After the end of the Czech Games, where the team defended last year’s championship, the head coach Kari Jalonen and the general manager of the national team Petr Nedvěd decided on the changes.
All four newly invited players should join the Swedish Hockey Games before Wednesday, where the forward David Krejčí, who, after agreement with the team management with the team in Ostrava, was just training, should also intervene in the matches.
Invitations for NHL players were confirmed on Saturday. Before departure, goalkeeper Karel Vejmelka from Arizona, defender Filip Hronek and attackers Jakub Vrána (both Detroit), Dominik Simon (Anaheim) and Dmitrij Jaškin (Arizona) will also join. Bek Radim Šimek and forward Tomáš Hertl from San Jose will arrive straight to Stockholm behind the team.
“We have agreed that everyone should intervene – as well as reinforcements from the NHL – in the matches in Stockholm,” said the general manager of the Czech team Nedvěd. “We also contacted Vladimír Sobotka, who apologized for the injured wrist with which he finished the playoff final,” Nedvěd explained.
He also admitted that it was not easy to point out those for whom the fight for the nomination was over. “It was a very difficult decision for us. Especially after such a successful tournament in Ostrava. But even that belongs to hockey. We thank all twelve players for getting all the training and matches soaked,” Nedvěd praised.
He also informed that due to an injury, a previously announced reinforcement could not join the team – defender Ronald Knot, who played the season in Nizhnykamsk in the KHL. There are currently three goalkeepers, 10 defenders and 16 forwards on the national team roster.
The team is waiting for the general team at the World Cup in the form of the Swedish Games next week. He will compete gradually with the home Swedes, the Finns and finally with the Swiss, who will replace the Russians at the final event of the Euro Hockey Tour series.
Nomination of Czech hockey players for the Swedish Games in Stockholm (May 5-8):
Goalkeepers: Štěpán Lukeš (Karlovy Vary), Marek Langhamer (Ilves Tampere / Fin.), Karel Vejmelka (Arizona / NHL),
defenders: Tomáš Kundrátek, David Musil (both Třinec), David Jiříček (Plzeň), Michal Moravčík (Sparta), Michal Jordán (Khabarovsk / KHL), Jakub Krejčík (Dinamo Minsk / KHL), David Sklenička (Kärpät Oulu / Fin.) , Jan Ščotka (Jyväskylä / Fin.), Filip Hronek (Detroit / NHL), Radim Šimek (San Jose / NHL),
forwards: Jiří Černoch, Jakub Flek (both Karlovy Vary), Matěj Blümel (Pardubice), Petr Holík (Brno), Filip Chlapík (Sparta), Petr Kodýtek (Plzeň), David Krejčí (Olomouc), Roman Červenka (Rapperswil-Jona / Jiří Smejkal (Pelicans Lahti / Finland), Matěj Stránský (Davos / Switzerland), Michael Špaček (Frölunda / Sweden), Hynek Zohorna (Oskarshamn, Sweden), Tomáš Hertl (San Jose / NHL), Dmitry Yashkin (Arizona / NHL), Dominik Simon (Anaheim / NHL), Jakub Vrana (Detroit / NHL).
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