Czech Republic's official roster

[DanCan]

Goal tenders

Roman Cechmanek, Los Angeles Kings
Martin Prusek, Ottawa Senators
Tomas Vokoun, Nashville Predators

Defense

Roman Hamrlik, NY Islanders
Frantisek Kaberle, Atlanta Trashers
Tomas Kaberle, Toronto Maple Leafs
Pavel Kubina, Tamba Bay Lightning
Marek Malik, Vancouver Canucks
Jiri Slegr, Boston Bruins
Jaroslav Spacek, Columbus Blue Jackets
Marek Zidlicky, Nashville Predators

Forwards

Petr Cajanek, St Louis Blues
Jiri Dopita, Padubice (CZE)
Radek Dvorak, Edmonton Oilers
Patrik Elias, New Jersey Devils
Martin Havlat, Ottawa Senators
Milan Hejduk, Colorado Avalanche
Jaromir Jagr, NY Rangers
Robert Lang, Detroit Red Wings
Vaclav Prospal, Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Robert Reichel, Toronto Maple Leafs
Martin Rucinsky, Vancouver Canucks
Martin Straka, Los Angeles Kings
Josef Vasicek, Carolina Hurricanes
Tomas Vlasek, Kazan (RSL)
David Vyborny, Columbus Blue Jackes

Coaching staff

General manager: Zbynek Kusy
Team manager: Martin Urban
Head coach: Ivan Hlinka
Assisting coaches: Ondrej Weissmann, Radim Rulik

[Jazz]

I haven't heard anything official, but is Vokoun going to start?

[body-czech]

There was no specification who will be the starting goalie, just that Prusek should be the 3rd one. I think our coach will choose Vokoun as the 1st goalie, according to me he is the best czech goalie lately, and he was excellent at the WCH this year too.

[Jazz]

CZECHS SAY NO TO BONK[/u][/color]

By CHRIS STEVENSON -- Ottawa Sun
Source: slam.canoe.ca/Slam040526/nhl_ott-sun.html

Radek Bonk might be regarded as a No. 1 centre by some here in Ottawa, but he's not even on the radar screen in his native Czech Republic.

Bonk was snubbed again by Czech hockey authorities when they announced their roster yesterday for the upcoming World Cup of Hockey.

Making the grade from the Senators were winger Martin Havlat and goaltender Martin Prusek, bringing to nine the number of Senators who have been selected to represent their countries.

Havlat, who played on a line with Jaromir Jagr at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake, has first-line potential. Prusek will likely be the backup to Tomas Vokoun, who had an outstanding year with the Nashville Predators, helping them to the playoffs for the first time and then representing the Czech Republic at the world championships.

"I would like to see him there," Havlat said of Bonk during a conference call from the airport in Monaco where Havlat was vacationing. "I played with him the last four years and I think he's a pretty good player. But we can't control that. It's up to the team management and the coaches."

Bonk didn't measure up to years past, with just 12 goals and 32 assists in 66 games last year. He was a non-factor in the Senators' seven-game loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs with just two assists.

LACKING SPARK

Obviously, the Czech officials saw the same traits in Bonk that drive some fans crazy: A lack of passion and an unwillingness to get involved physically.

The Czech team, which will be coached by Ivan Hlinka -- who took over after the Czechs were ousted from the world championships by the USA -- opted for the likes of Robert Lang, Vaclav Prospal, Jiri Dopita, Robert Reichel and Petr Cajanek at the centre position.

For the first time in a long time, the Czechs won't have goaltender Dominik Hasek in goal in a major international competition. He recently underwent groin surgery and was not named to the team yesterday.

That didn't worry Havlat.

"Last year Vokoun had a great season. He helped his team make the playoffs and he was great in the world championships. I think he'll be the No. 1, for sure," he said.

After missing training camp in a contract dispute last fall, the 23-year-old Havlat had 31 goals and 37 assists for 68 points in 68 games with the Senators last year (he added another three assists in the seven-game loss to the Leafs in the first round of the playoffs).

[Wide Asleep]

Gurj said:

For the first time in a long time, the Czechs won't have goaltender Dominik Hasek in goal in a major international competition. He recently underwent groin surgery and was not named to the team yesterday.

I had to laugh when I read that. Shows you what a lot of people think of the World Championships over there... In spite of winning two in a row.

[Wide Asleep]

BTW Head Coach Hlinka said he hasn't spoken to most of the players but is sure they will be ready to play in August! He has a lot of authority as far as coaches go, so he just ay be abe to pull this one off.

[body-czech]

I try to imagine what a team we had if Czechoslovakia had never separated.

I moreless agree with the nomination of Ivan Hlinka. I think he knows well what he´s doing. I am curious how we´ll achieve, or not with our play on the small NHL rinks. Less of the space for combinations, neccessary to be more physical. I hope we will keep playing our game though.

[Jazz]

Hey Wide Asleep....

I think it shows the usual "Canadian-media" thinking - that only those tournaments with best vs best are considered.

Gurj.

[body-czech]

Well, best vs. best. Count how many times was an international tournament the best vs. the best off NA. Once! Yes, once - Nagano 1998. And it wasn´t even Europe! THe only best-best tournament played on hte european rink. (I don´t count the summit, and other series , played the USSR -Canada). The main problem is that the best european players are in the NHL. It is always the same song, many times discussed. But why the IIHF should always adjust to the NHL wishes. I am soo glad football(soccer) is not in the USA so popular. It would be a disaster of this beautiful game. No way, even Fasel said that in the near future, the IIHF doesn´t see any better relations with the NHL.