Goaltender Karel Vejmelka of Utah HC and defenseman Filip Hronek of the Vancouver Canucks will play for Czechia at this year’s IIHF World Championship in Herning, Denmark and Stockholm, Sweden, according multiple media sources.

“The next couple of weeks are going to be kinda slow and then I’m going to join the national team for the Worlds,” Vejmelka said in exit interviews, which are posted on the Utah club’s website. “I’m excited to be part of the team and battle for the trophy again.”

“Filip Hronek promised to participate earlier,” national team GM Jiří Šlégr is quoted on the Czech Ice Hockey Association website. “We are in talks with the club and are waiting for the exit inspection. We will inform you about the situation in due time.”

Vejmelka and Hronek are the first two current NHL players to agree to play for the Czech team at this year’s Worlds.

Several players have already declined invitations, including a few gold-medal winners from last year’s team: Dominik Kubalík, who had five goals in 10 games last year, David Tomášek, who led the Swedish Hockey League in scoring and then signed a contract with the Edmonton Oilers, and Radko Gudas of the Anaheim Ducks, who was a stalwart on the Czech defense last year, but is due to have surgery at the end of this season.

Semifinal vs Sweden a family affair for David Pastrňák Pastrňák couldn’t hide how happy he was for Boston Bruins teammate Pavel Zacha, <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/its-official-pastrnak-zacha-will-both-join-czechia">who flew overseas with him this week to play in his first World Championship</a>.

Others who have said no due to injuries are are David Jiříček of the Minnesota Wild and Filip Chytil of Vancouver.

One player who Czech fans remain hopeful about is star that David Pastrňák, whose Boston Bruins missed the playoffs.

“His joining the team is under discussion,” head coach Radim Rulík said in a radio interview with iRozhlas. “We have promises from very good players. The guys are interested in playing.”

However, fellow Bruins Pavel Zacha and Jakub Lauko are apparently less likely to go due to injuries.

In an interview a few weeks ago, Rulík also expressed optimism about Anaheim goaltender Lukáš Dostál.

Lukáš Dostál after winning gold at home: “I’ll remember it forever” The offensive heroes have changed almost every game – a testament to the team’s depth – but there’s been a constant as the last line of defense for the Czech World Championship team: Lukáš Dostál, who was voted Top Goalkeeper by the IIHF Tournament Directorate and named to the Media All-Star Team after posting a save percentage of .939 and a goals-against average of 1.58.