April 17, 2014; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl (48) scores a goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period in game one of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
2. CZECH REPUBLIC
Czech Republic is extremely strong at forward, led by names like Tomas Hertl, Jiri Hudler, Jaromir Jagr, and Vladimir Sobotka. Although they are lacking on the back end and between the pipes, they certainly have the talent up front to compete with Canada.
Player to Watch: Tomas Hertl, San Jose Sharks
Nathan MacKinnon isn’t the only young gun that could light up these Worlds. After missing a large portion of the season with a knee injury, Hertl was extremely dangerous when healthy and didn’t back down in a tough first-round playoff loss to the LA Kings.
Coach: Vladimir Ruzicka
Forwards:
Roamn Cervenka, SKA St. Petersburg
Milan Gulas, Farjestad Karlstad
Tomas Hertl, San Jose Sharks
Jiri Hudler, Calgary Flames
Jaromir Jagr, New Jersey Devils
Lukas Kaspar, Donbass Donetsk
Jakub Klepis, Lev Prague
Jan Kovar, Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Jiri Novotny, Lev Prague
Jakud Petruzalek, Ak Bars Kazan
Thomas Rolinek, Sparta Prague
Martin Ruzicka, Ocelari Trinec
Jiri Sekac, Lev Prague
Vladimir Sobotka, St. Louis Blues
Michal Vondrka, Slovan Bratislava
Martin Zatovic, HC Karlovy Vary
Defence:
Michal Jordan, Charlotte Checkers
Jakub Klindl, Detroit Red Wings
Jan Kolar, Donbass Donetsk
Ondrej Vitasek, Bili Tygri Liberec
Petr Zamorsky, HC Zlin
Goalies:
Davel Francouz, HC Litvinov
Jakub Kovar, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg
Alexander Salak, SKA St. Petersburg