The Czech Ice Hockey Association announced on Monday its roster for this year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup, which runs Aug. 9 to 14 in Brno, Czechia and Trenčín, Slovakia. The Czechs have lost in the final to Canada in each of the past two years.

Last year’s Czech team was composed entirely of 2007-born players and therefore there are no returnees this year. There are, however, three players from last year’s IIHF U-18 World Championship team: goaltender František Poletín (the younger brother of New York Islanders prospect Tomáš Poletín) and defensemen Jiří Kamas and 2009-born Lukáš Kachlíř. Forward Šimon Katolický – a projected first-round pick in next year’s NHL Entry Draft – was also elibigle to return but he is currently recovering from surgery following a ruptured appendix.

Defenseman Václav Nedorost is the son of former NHL forward Václav Nedorost. The younger Nedorost is one of two players on the team – the other being forward David Huk – who play for Swedish club Linköping. The remainder of the team is entirely domestic.

The Czechs, who will play in the group in Brno along with Canada, Finland and Switzerland, will play a pre-tournament game against the USA on Aug. 9.

Click here for the full tournament schedule. 

Venues, Schedule For 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup The Czech Ice Hockey Association and Hockey Slovakia jointly announced this week the <a href="https://hlinkagretzkycup.cz/eng/zapasy.asp">schedule for the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup</a> – an annual summer tournament for players entering their final U18 season.

Goaltenders (2): Martin Psohlavec (Karlovy Vary), František Poletín (Pelicans Lahti, FIN).

Defensemen (8): Lukáš Kachlíř, Jakub Vaněček (both Liberec), Ondřej Ruml (Pardubice), Pavel Kůrka (Karlovy Vary), Dominick Radim Byrtus (Třinec), Ben Stefan Reisnecker (Sparta Prague), Jiří Kamas (Škoda Plzeň), Václav Nedorost (Linköping, SWE).

Forwards (13): Šimon Bělohorský (Liberec), Petr Hanyš (Mladá Boleslav), Tobiáš Sekanina (Pardubice), Petr Tomek (Karlovy Vary), Michal Hartl (Kometa Brno), Jan Trefný (Litvínov), Dominik Řípa (Třinec), Josef Holejšovský, Vojtěch Švancar (both Slavia Prague), Filip Novák (Sparta Prague), Jiří Maxa, Matěj Tománek (both Škoda Plzeň), David Huk (Linköping, SWE).

Reserves:

Goaltenders: Sebastian Charvát (Liberec), Marek Sklenička (Mladá Boleslav), Jan Láryš (Vítkovice). Defensemen: Jáchym Kubečka (Zlín), Tomáš Čermák (Mladá Boleslav), David Zmrhal (Jihlava), Ondřej Szarowski (Vítkovice). Forwards: Dominik Krajdl (Liberec), Filip Matějka (Mladá Boleslav), David Sedláček, Lukáš Slavík (both Karlovy Vary), Vojtěch Kubín (Kometa Brno), René Řehák, Matěj Weiss (both Třinec), Jan Fodor (Škoda Plzeň).

Team Staff:

Manager: Petr Hubáček; Head Coach: Jan Tomajko; Assistant Coaches: Jaroslav Nedvěd, Ladislav Šmíd’ Goaltending Coach: Marek Schwarz; Video Coach: Jan Vidner; Physician: Josef März; Athletic Trainer: Tomáš Handl; Equipment Mangers: Vlastimil Pospíšil, Jakub Janča.

Photo by Martin Voltr.

Other team rosters announced so far:

Finland’s Roster For 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Finland’s roster for this summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup does not feature any returnees from last year’s team but two defensemen played at the IIHF U-18 World Championships: Juho Piiparinen and Samu Alalauri. As well, Max Laatikainen played some games with the U-18 national team last season.