The national team cut the squad by two attackers, further changes are announced in Sweden

Filip Zadina | Photo: Markéta Křížová

The coaching staff of the national team made two cuts on Friday evening: strikers Filip Zadina and Petr Kodýtek will not continue their preparations for the home WC. Czech hockey informed about it through a press release.

“Filip was plagued by injuries at the end of the NHL season and had a big game deficit,” reminds Radim Rulík, a fact he already mentioned after Thursday’s game with Finland.

“Compared to other players, he has a handicap in this respect and it is evident that he cannot catch up to him by the start of the World Cup. I would still like to thank Filip for coming to try to fight for the nomination,” adds the national team coach.

“Filip was plagued by injuries towards the end of the NHL season and had a big game deficit.”

Zadina dropped out of the national team’s consideration for the closely watched championship in Prague after only a few days, and even the small Kodýtek center will not appear at the tournament. 35 hockey players continue to fight for the invitation, including five extra league finalists.

“Petr completed the EHT tournaments with us during the season, as well as most of the preparation for the World Championships in April. All the time, he did a hundred percent job, for which we would like to thank him,” says Rulík to Kodýtka.

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“However, we currently have seven centers in the team and we already know that we will choose different types of players for the final five center forwards that we want to take to the World Cup,” explains the head of the implementation team.

Both fighters were in the line-up for yesterday’s opener of the Czech Hockey Games, they jumped together in the second attack alongside Matěj Stránský. In the 1:4 defeat against Finland, neither of them scored.

“However, we currently have seven centers in the team and we already know that we will choose different types of players.”

The national team roster currently consists of three goalkeepers, twelve defenders and twenty forwards. The coaches are planning further narrowing down after Saturday’s game with Sweden, then on Sunday evening Rulík will reveal the final selection for this year’s World Cup at a press conference.

Nomination for the Czech Hockey Games in Brno

Goalkeepers:
Petr Mrazek (Chicago Blackhawks, NHL), Karel Vejmelka (Arizona Coyotes, NHL), Lukáš Dostál (Anaheim Ducks, NHL).

Defenders:
Libor Zábranský (Porin Ässät, FIN), Jan Ščotka (HC Kometa Brno), Dominik Masin (Ilves Tampere, FIN), Michal Kempný, Jakub Krejčík (both HC Sparta Prague), David Spacek (Iowa Wild, AHL), Jiří Ticháček (Knights of Kladno), Dear Gudas (Anaheim Ducks, NHL), Jan Rutta (San Jose Sharks, NHL), Tomas Kundratek (HC Steelworkers Třinec), Libor Hájek, Jan Košťálek (both HC Dynamo Pardubice).

Attackers:
Roman Cervenka (SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers, SWI), Ondřej Beránek (HC Energie Karlovy Vary), Michael Spacek (HC Ambrì-Piotta, SWI), David Tomasek (Färjestad BK, SWE), Jakub Flek (HC Kometa Brno), Jáchym Kondelík (Banes Motor České Budějovice), Radan Lenz (HV71, SWE), Michal Kovarčík, Ondřej Kovařčík (both Mikkelin Jukurit, FIN), Matej Stránský (HC Davos, SWI), Filip Chlapík, Pavel Kousal (both HC Sparta Prague), Ondřej Kaše (HC VERVA Litvínov), Dominik Kubalik (Ottawa Senators, NHL), Ondrej Palát, Tomas Nosek (both New Jersey Devils), Jakub Vrana (Springfield Thunderbirds, AHL), I recommend Zohorn (Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL), Lukáš Sedlák (HC Dynamo Pardubice), Daniel Vozenilek (HC Ocelarí Třinec).

Petr Kodýtek | Photo: Markéta Křížová

Implementation team

General manager: Petr Nedved.
Assistant General Manager: Martin Havlat.
Head Coach: I like Rulík.
Assistant coaches: Marek Židlický, Jiří Kalous and Tomáš Plekanec.
Goalkeeper coach: Ondrej Pavelec.
Video trainer: Jakub Zelenka.
Video technician: Denis Havel.
Analyst: Jan Morkes.
Manager: Milan Hnilička.
Physiotherapists: Radovan Sakaláš and Pavel Kolář.
Fitness coach: Michal Hamršmíd.
Doctors: Tomáš Vyskočil and Antonín Chochola.
Custodians: Zdeněk Šmíd, Petr Šulan and Oldřich Kopecký.
Media Manager: Ondrej Kalat.