Eurolanche

WC teams presentation: Czech republic

After winning gold at the 2010 IIHF World Championship and bronze the following two years, the Czech Republic hasn't been successful in any of the big international events since.

Heading into the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, almost all of the leaders from the "Golden Generation" that won gold medals at the World Championship six times and at the 1998 Nagano Olympics between 1996 and 2010 are gone, and powerhouses Canada, the United States and Sweden have gotten stronger.

The most intriguing question for the Team Czech Republic roster for the World Cup involves forward Jaromír Jágr, who will turn 44 in February. He is heading into the final year of his contract with the Florida Panthers and he may not be playing in the NHL by the time the tournament starts in Toronto in September 2016.

But it's been that way a few times in recent years, and Jagr always came back and performed beyond expectations. At the 2015 World Championship in Prague he was voted tournament MVP when he had nine points in 10 games. Afterward he said his international career was over.

Because of that statement and his age, it seems more likely he won't be on the roster and Czech hockey has to start a new, post-Jágr era.

World Cup of Hockey 2016 Team CZECH REPUBLIC Jersey.

Roster- forwards

• Radek Faksa (Dallas Stars)
• Aleš Hemský (Dallas Stars)
• Dmitrij Jaškin (St. Louis Blues)
• Milan Michálek (Toronto Maple Leafs)
• Michael Frolík (Calgary Flames)
• Martin Hanzal (Arizona Coyotes)
• Michal Birner (Traktor Chelyabinsk- KHL)- replacement for injured Tomáš Hertl
• Roman Červenka (Fribourg-Gottéron- Switzerland)- replacement for injured David Krejčí
• Tomáš Plekanec (Montreal Canadiens) "C"
• Vladimír Sobotka (Avangar Omsk- KHL)
• Jakub Voráček (Philadelphia Flyers)

Defense:

• Michal Jordán (Carolina Hurricanes)
• Zbyněk Michálek (Arizona Coyotes)
• Jakub Nakládal (Calgary Flames)
• Tomáš Kundrátek (HC Slovan Bratislava- KHL)- replacement for injured Radko Gudas
• Michal Kempný (Avangar Omsk- KHL)
• Roman Polák (San Jose Sharks)
• Andrej Šustr (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Goalies:

• Petr Mrázek (Detroit Red Wings)
• Michal Neuvirth (Philadelphia Flyers)
• Ondřej Pavelec (Winnipeg Jets)