Team Czechia at the 2027 WJC: Roster, Schedule, History & Predictions
Team Czechia enters the 2027 World Junior Championship as a defending silver medalist. They won a silver medal in the 2026 tournament. Now they bring the 2026 tournament MVP and a strong core to Edmonton. They are strong medal contenders at this event.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Tournament | IIHF 2027 World Junior Championship |
| Dates | Dec 26, 2026 – Jan 5, 2027 |
| Team Group | B |
| Venue | Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta |
| Head Coach | Jan Tomajko |
| Team Manager | Petr Hubáček |
| Recent Finish | Silver Medal in 2026 |
| WJC Gold Titles | 2 (2000, 2001) |
| Last Update | Oct 13, 2026 |
In this Team Czechia 2027 World Junior Championship guide, we cover their schedule, projected roster, management staff, key players, strengths, weaknesses, our expert projection, and more.
Czechia’s Schedule at the 2027 World Juniors
Czechia is in Group B and will play all its preliminary-round games at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. In this stage, they will face Team Canada, Norway, Switzerland, and Latvia. Czechia also plays the tournament’s opening game against Norway.
| Date | Opponent | Time (MT) | Time (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 26, 2026 | Norway | 12:00 PM | 2:00 PM | Rogers Place, Edmonton |
| Dec 27, 2026 | Latvia | 12:00 PM | 2:00 PM | Rogers Place, Edmonton |
| Dec 29, 2026 | Switzerland | 12:00 PM | 2:00 PM | Rogers Place, Edmonton |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Canada | 5:00 PM | 7:00 PM | Rogers Place, Edmonton |
View the complete schedule, including times and fixtures, for the 2027 World Junior Championship.
Complete Team Czechia Roster for 2027
The roster below is our projection, not the official one. Czechia is expected to announce the official 25-player roster in early December, after the national team camp. Our projection includes 14 forwards, 8 defensemen, and 3 goalies. Up to 16 players from the 2026 team are eligible to return.
Forwards
| Player | Pos | Shoots | Height | Weight | Current Team | NHL Rights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vojtěch Čihař | LW | L | 6’1″ | 181 lbs | Ontario Reign (AHL) | Los Angeles Kings (2025, R2 #59) |
| Václav Nestrašil | RW | R | 6’6″ | 205 lbs | UMass (NCAA) | Chicago Blackhawks (2025, R1 #25) |
| Adam Novotný | LW/RW | L | 6’1″ | 205 lbs | Peterborough Petes (OHL) | Vancouver Canucks (2026, R1 #24) |
| Adam Benák | C | L | 5’7″ | 164 lbs | Western Michigan (NCAA) | Minnesota Wild (2025, R4 #102) |
| Tomáš Poletín | LW | L | 6’1″ | 205 lbs | Kelowna Rockets (WHL) | New York Islanders (2025, R4 #106) |
| Vít Záhejský | C/RW | R | 5’11” | 185 lbs | Kamloops Blazers (WHL) | Undrafted |
| Matouš Jan Kucharčík | F | L | 6’4″ | 181 lbs | Miami Univ. (Ohio) (NCAA) | Buffalo Sabres (2025, R4 #103) |
| Šimon Katolický | LW/RW | L | 6’5″ | 205 lbs | Sarnia Sting (OHL) | Calgary Flames (2026, R5 #132) |
| Petr Tomek | C | L | 5’10” | 165 lbs | HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Czechia) | 2027 Draft Eligible |
| Michal Hartl | RW | R | 6’0″ | 190 lbs | HC Kometa Brno (Czechia) | 2027 Draft Eligible |
| David Huk | C | R | 6’2″ | 198 lbs | Tri-City Americans (WHL) | 2027 Draft Eligible |
| Jan Trefný | LW | L | 5’11” | 172 lbs | Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) | Undrafted |
| Adam Klaus | F | L | 6’0″ | 183 lbs | Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL) | Undrafted |
| Adrien Bartovič | C | L | 6’1″ | 185 lbs | Guelph Storm (OHL) | Undrafted |
Defensemen
| Player | Shoots | Height | Weight | Current Team | NHL Rights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radim Mrtka | R | 6’6″ | 218 lbs | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) | Buffalo Sabres (2025, R1 #9) |
| Max Pšenička | R | 6’5″ | 194 lbs | Portland Winterhawks (WHL) | Utah Mammoth (2025, R2 #46) |
| Vladimír Dravecký | R | 6’0″ | 190 lbs | Guelph Storm (OHL) | New York Islanders (2026, R5 #141) |
| Jakub Vaněček | L | 6’2″ | 194 lbs | Tri-City Americans (WHL) | Dallas Stars (2026, R2 #59) |
| Ondřej Ruml | L | 6’0″ | 172 lbs | Ottawa 67’s (OHL) | Colorado Avalanche (2026, R7 #214) |
| Jiří Kamas | R | 6’2″ | 194 lbs | Red Deer Rebels (WHL) | Undrafted |
| Vashek Blanár | L | 6’5″ | 192 lbs | HV71 (Sweden) | Boston Bruins (2025, R4 #100) |
| Jakub Seidl | R | 6’0″ | 187 lbs | Bílí Tygři Liberec (Czechia) | Undrafted |
Goaltenders
| Player | Catches | Height | Weight | Current Team | NHL Rights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michal Oršulák | R | 6’4″ | 225 lbs | Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) | Detroit Red Wings (2026, R3 #79) |
| Martin Psohlavec | L | 6’5″ | 185 lbs | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) | Philadelphia Flyers (2026, R2 #62) |
| Marek Sklenička | L | 6’4″ | 181 lbs | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) | Philadelphia Flyers (2026, R4 #120) |
Coaches & Management
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Jan Tomajko |
| Assistant Coach | Zdeněk Kutlák |
| Assistant Coach | Jakub Venc |
| Goaltending Coach | Marek Schwarz |
| Team Manager | Petr Hubáček |
Projected Line Combination
Czechia’s line combinations will depend on the final roster and player availability. The coaching staff is expected to build the forward lines around its top scorers, and pair experienced defensemen with younger players. The coaching staff will update these projected lines once it announces the official roster.
Forward Lines
Defensive Pairing
Goaltenders Depth Chart
Key Players to Watch
Vojtěch Čihař (LW – Los Angeles Kings)
Čihař is the first Czech player ever named World Junior MVP. He scored a point in every game and 12 points in 7 games in the 2026 tournament. He is a skilled winger who creates scoring chances and helps lead Czechia’s attack. He opened 2026-27 with the Ontario Reign of the AHL.
Václav Nestrašil (RW – Chicago Blackhawks)
Nestrašil is 6-foot-6 tall and adds skill to Czechia’s forward group. Daily Faceoff ranked him among the top NCAA prospects to watch for 2026-27. He plays a heavy power game that thrives on North American ice.
Radim Mrtka (D – Buffalo Sabres)
Mrtka is Czechia’s No. 1 defenseman and was drafted 9th overall in 2025. He opened the season in the AHL with Rochester before returning to Seattle in the WHL. He is 6’6″ and weighs 218 lbs. His defensive work and ability to play under pressure could be key against the tournament’s strongest teams.
Adam Novotný (LW/RW – Vancouver Canucks)
Novotný is the only Czech first-rounder from 2026, and the fifth straight year a Czech went in round one. He scored 34 goals with Peterborough in the OHL. At 18, he already has two World Junior Championship appearances.
Michal Oršulák (G – Detroit Red Wings)
Oršulák could play an important role in goal for Czechia. Started the 2026 gold-medal game and won WHL Best GAA last season. He carried Prince Albert to the WHL Championship Series with a .907 save percentage. At 6-foot-4, his size fills the net well.
Adam Benák (C – Minnesota Wild)
Benák is the playmaker who makes the top line work. He led the Czechs with 3 goals and 10 points in 4 games at the August Five Nations. He starts his college career at Western Michigan this season.
Team Czechia Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
Weaknesses
Czechia at Previous World Juniors (History)
Team Czechia has won 2 back-to-back golds in 2000 and 2001, 2 silver medals, and 3 bronze medals in WJC history. Four straight medals from 2023 to 2026 have made Czechia a regular in the medal race.
| Year | Finish | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Silver Medal | Minnesota |
| 2025 | Bronze | Ottawa |
| 2024 | Bronze | Gothenburg |
| 2023 | Silver | Moncton & Halifax |
| 2022 | 4th place | Edmonton |
| 2021 | 7th place | Edmonton |
| 2020 | 7th | Ostrava & Trinec |
Prediction About the Czechia Team in the 2027 edition
Czechia has a strong chance to reach the knockout stage and compete for another medal. The game against Canada will decide their position in Group B. They already beat Canada in the 2024 & 2025 quarterfinals and the 2026 semifinal. We predict Czechia finishes second in Group B and stretches its medal streak to five.
Conclusion
Team Czechia enters the 2027 World Junior Championship as a strong medal contender. Their projected squad includes young players and several returnees from the 2026 silver-medal-winning team. The roster is young, but the program has earned its place among the favorites.
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