:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/28403367/gyi0064588857.0.jpg)
2010 Olympic Performance: 7th (L) 2-0, Finland - Quarterfinals
Winnipeg Jets' representation: Michael Frolik (RW), Ondrej Pavelec (G)
Players to Watch: Patrick Elias (C), David Krejci (C), Jaromir Jagr (RW), Tomas Plekanec (C)
Tournament Dark Horse: Ondřej Palát (LW)
Schedule
| DATE | TIME | EVENT |
| February 12, 2014 | 11:00AM | CZE vs. SWE |
| February 14, 2014 | 2:00AM | CZE vs. LAT |
| February 15, 2014 | 11:00AM | SUI vs. CZE |
Roster
| NAME | POSITION | AGE | LEAGUE | TEAM |
| Jaromir Jagr | RW | 41 | NHL | New Jersey Devils |
| Tomas Plekanec | C | 31 | NHL | Montreal Canadiens |
| Patrik Elias | C/LW | 37 | NHL | New Jersey Devils |
| Milan Michalek | LW | 29 | NHL | Ottawa Senators |
| David Krejci | C | 27 | NHL | Boston Bruins |
| Jakub Voracek | LW/RW | 24 | NHL | Philadelphia Flyers |
| Ondrej Palat | LW | 22 | NHL | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| Martin Hanzal | C | 26 | NHL | Phoenix Coyotes |
| Ales Hemsky | RW | 30 | NHL | Edmonton Oilers |
| Martin Erat | RW | 32 | NHL | Washington Capitals |
| Roman Cervenka | C | 28 | KHL | St. Petersburg SKA |
| Michael Frolik | RW | 25 | NHL | Winnipeg Jets |
| Petr Nedved | LW | 42 | Czech | Liberec Bili Tygri HC |
| Jiri Novotny | C | 30 | KHL | Prague Lev |
| Zbynek Michalek | D | 31 | NHL | Phoenix Coyotes |
| Marek Zidlicky | D | 37 | NHL | New Jersey Devils |
| Michal Rozsival | D | 35 | NHL | Chicago Blackhawks |
| Radko Gudas | D | 23 | NHL | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| Tomas Kaberle | D | 35 | Czech | Kladno Knights |
| Ladislav Smid | D | 28 | NHL | Calgary Flames |
| Michal Barinka | D | 29 | Czech | Vitkovice HC |
| Lukas Krajicek | D | 30 | KHL | Dinamo Minsk |
| Ondrej Pavelec | G | 26 | NHL | Winnipeg Jets |
| Jakub Kovar | G | 25 | KHL | Yekaterinburg Automobilist |
| Alexander Salak | G | 27 | KHL |
St. Petersburg SKA |
Injuries
| STATUS | PLAYER | NHL Team |
| IN | Martin Erat | Washington Capitals |
| OUT | Vladimir Sobotka | St. Louis Blues |
Strengths
Lots of experience: With an average player age teetering just shy of 30 (29.76), the Czech Republic features one of the more veteran savvy rosters heading into the 2014 Sochi tournament. Jaromir Jagr will be appearing in his fifth (!) Olympic Games while his cohort Patrick Elias isn't far behind. The familiarity shared between their forward group could be of monumental importance, especially given the advantage of playing on an Olympic-sized ice surface. As a number of these players were part of the 2010 World Championship roster which won gold in Mannheim, Germany, General Manager Slavomír Lener will look to replicate from this past success.
Depth at centre: Tomas Plekanec, David Krejci and Martin Hanzal highlight the Czech's deepest pool of talent at any position. The trio will be tasked with producing offence for an underrated cluster of wingers who could be poised to surprise.
Weaknesses
Goaltending: While it's true that Ondrej Pavelec saves some of his best work for international play, the Czech's have backed him up with a pair of unheralded netminders from the KHL. Alexander Salak saw a brief stint in the AHL as a member of the Florida Panthers affiliate while Jakub Kovar has quietly put up sneaky good numbers playing in the KHL. But on hockey's grandest stage, you need sound goaltending in order to win. Of the top six countries in contention, the Czech's have the biggest question mark between the pipes.
Defensive defencemen: Despite having decent puck moving defencemen in Marek Zidlicky and -- shock of shocks -- Michal Rozsival, no other NHL blue-liner possesses a Corsi For % of over 50.0% this season; Ladislav Smid being the chief worst among them. The lack of offensive output from their rearguards could be yet another detriment to the Czech's reaching the podium.
