New Jersey Devils veteran star Jaromir Jagr will lead the Czech Republic ice-hockey team at the Sochi Winter Olympics, head coach Alois Hadamczik told reporters on Monday.
Nominated for his fifth Olympics, the 41-year-old Jagr is the only player on the 25-man roster who won the surprise Olympic gold at Nagano 1998.
Besides Jagr, who has had 13 goals and 21 assists in 43 NHL games this season, the roster with an average age of 29.8 years comprises fellow Devil Patrik Elias and Montreal Canadiens center Tomas Plekanec, the team captain.
"I am convinced we have tried to pick the best team which will stick together and be determined to achieve the best result possible," Hadamczik said.
"Our goal at Sochi is a medal. Looking at the tradition, ambitions and reputation of our hockey, it can't be otherwise," added Czech Ice Hockey Association head Tomas Kral.
Jagr is not the oldest man on the team as Hadamczik also picked Petr Nedved, a former NHL player who at 42 now represents Czech top flight side Liberec.
The Czechs have to do without their top rising star, 20-year-old Tomas Hertl of the San Jose Sharks, who has been ruled out with a knee injury.
"If he were OK, he would go," Hadamczik said.
The Czechs begin the Olympic tournament against Sweden on February 12.
Roster:
Goaltenders: Ondrej Pavelec (Winnipeg Jets), Jakub Kovar (Ekaterinburg/RUS), Alexander Salak (St. Petersburg/RUS)
Defensemen: Michal Barinka (Vitkovice/CZE), Radko Gudas (Tampa Bay Lightning), Tomas Kaberle (Kladno/CZE), Lukas Krajicek (Dinamo Minsk/BLR), Zbynek Michalek (Phoenix Coyotes), Michal Rozsival (Chicago Blackhawks), Ladislav Smid (Calgary Flames), Marek Zidlicky (New Jersey Devils)
Forwards: Roman Cervenka (St. Petersburg/RUS), Patrik Elias (New Jersey Devils), Michael Frolik (Winnipeg Jets), Martin Hanzal (Phoenix Coyotes), Ales Hemsky (Edmonton Oilers), Jaromir Jagr (New Jersey Devils), David Krejci (Boston Bruins), Milan Michalek (Ottawa Senators), Petr Nedved (Liberec/CZE), Jiri Novotny (Lev Praha/CZE), Ondrej Palat (Tampa Bay Lightning), Tomas Plekanec (Montreal Canadiens), Vladimir Sobotka (St Louis Blues), Jakub Voracek (Philadelphia Flyers)
Source: DSG
