THE CZECH TEAM will be defending its 1998 title, the first Olympics in which NHL players were used.
<BR> In addition to Jagr, the high-scoring Pittsburgh forward, and Hasek, the Buffalo Sabres’ goalkeeper, the others selected to the team were Pittsburgh’s Martin Straka; Petr Svoboda of Tampa Bay; Martin Rucinsky of Montreal; Patrik Elias and Petr Sykora of New Jersey, and Milan Hejduk of Colorado.
<BR> Svoboda scored the only goal for the Czechs in the final in 1998 after Hasek had made several brilliant stops, including one against Wayne Gretzky in a shootout to beat Canada in the semifinals.
<BR>
<BR> In addition to Jagr, the high-scoring Pittsburgh forward, and Hasek, the Buffalo Sabres’ goalkeeper, the others selected to the team were Pittsburgh’s Martin Straka; Petr Svoboda of Tampa Bay; Martin Rucinsky of Montreal; Patrik Elias and Petr Sykora of New Jersey, and Milan Hejduk of Colorado.
<BR> Svoboda scored the only goal for the Czechs in the final in 1998 after Hasek had made several brilliant stops, including one against Wayne Gretzky in a shootout to beat Canada in the semifinals.
<BR>