The 2026 World Juniors get underway today in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. The Czechs are one of the teams opening their tournament schedule with a high-powered Group B clash against Canada. However, injuries have prevented them from releasing an official tournament roster as compared to their preliminary list that exceeded the 25-player maximum.
Below are the players they’ve registered for today’s opener – a bare-bones roster of 12 forwards, six defenders, and three goalies. There are four spots the Czechs can fill from now until the medal games if players become available to return.
F Adam Benák (Wild, 2025, 4-102)
F Vojtech Cihar (Kings, 2025, 2-59)
F Max Curran (Avalanche, 2024, 5-161)
F Stepan Hoch (Mammoth, 2025, 3-78)
F Jiří Klíma (undrafted in 2024, 2025)
F Matej Kubiesa (undrafted in 2024, 2025)
F Vaclav Nestrasil (Blackhawks, 2025, 1-25)
F Adam Novotny (2026 draft-eligible)
F Tomas Poletin (Islanders, 2025, 4-106)
F Petr Sikora (Capitals, 2024, 6-178)
F Adam Titlbach (undrafted in 2024, 2025)
F Richard Zemlicka (undrafted in 2024, 2025)
D Vladimír Dravecký (2026 draft-eligible)
D Jakub Fibigr (Kraken, 2024, 7-202)
D Tomas Galvas (undrafted in 2024, 2025)
D Adam Jiříček (Blues, 2024, 1-16)
D Matyas Man (undrafted in 2024, 2025)
D Max Psenicka (Mammoth, 2025, 2-46)
G Matyas Marik (undrafted in 2024, 2025)
G Michal Orsulak (undrafted in 2025)
G Ondrej Stebetak (undrafted in 2025)
Most notably absent is Sabres prospect Radim Mrtka. The reigning No. 9 overall pick, who was jockeying for position as their No. 1 right-shot defenseman, sustained an injury in a pre-tournament game and won’t dress tonight. He’s not been ruled out for Saturday’s tilt against Denmark, but he’s a big loss against their toughest group-stage opponent.
Another notable name listed on the preliminary roster but not here is Blues 2024 third-rounder Adam Jecho. The 6’4″ center also left a pre-tournament game – this time with a hand injury – and will not be available after recording seven points in seven games last year in Czechia’s march to a bronze medal, their third straight year coming home with hardware.
The four open spots will be filled with Mrtka, undrafted center Samuel Drancak, Bruins fourth-rounder Vashek Blanár, and 2026 draft-eligible defenseman Jakub Vanecek as they become available or are needed.
Without Mrtka, Jiříček will be the Czech’s unquestioned top defender and minutes-eater. Rostered for the third straight year, the mobile puck-mover has exploded for 29 points and a +17 rating in 25 games for the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs this season.
Offensively, they’re nearly at full strength aside from Jecho, who was ticketed to be a top-six piece. Instead, the headliners will be Nestrasil and Novotny, an 18-year-old winger who should be a top-20 pick – if not top 15 – next June with 35 points in 29 OHL games for the Peterborough Petes. The undersized Benák was left off the roster last year but enters the tournament tied for fifth in OHL scoring with 43 points in 26 games alongside Jiříček in Brantford.
The goaltending should be a bit of a competition. Marik is the oldest and carries by far the least impressive resume heading into this season, but has been spectacular in the Czech junior circuit, recording a .954 SV% in 20 games. Orsulak and Stebetak have faced much tougher competition in the WHL this year. Orsulak, with his .908 SV% in 16 games for Prince Albert, likely gets the nod.