Fleischmann is an Olympian

by J.P. on Dec 30, 2009 8:30 AM EST

Per @JeffMarek, the Czech Republic Olympic team:

Goalies: Tomas Vokoun, Florida; Ondrej Pavelec, Atlanta; Jakub Stepanek, Vitkovice

Defensemen: Miroslav Blatak, Ufa; Jan Hejda, Columbus; Tomas Kaberle, Toronto; Filip Kuba, Ottawa; Pavel Kubina, Atlanta; Zbynek Michalek, Phoenix; Roman Polak, St. Louis; Marek Zidlicky, Minnesota

Forwards: Petr Cajanek, SKA Pietari; Roman Cervenka, Slavia Praha; Patrik Elias, New Jersey; Martin Erat, Nashville; Tomas Fleischmann, Washington; Martin Havlat, Minnesota; Jaromir Jagr, Omsk; David Krejci, Boston; Milan Michalek, Ottawa; Tomas Plekanec, Montreal; Tomas Rolinek, Magnitogorsk; Josef Vasicek, Lokomotiv

Do you like this story?

Comments

Well done, good luck and stay healthy.

"I didn't mind a diminished role because we were winning so much and we're such a great team and had a chance to do something in the playoffs...I would have taken any role on this team to do that.

by Bald Pollack on Dec 30, 2009 8:34 AM EST reply actions

NICE. Good job, Flash.

I could have been equipment manager, but nooooo!

by boutros23 on Dec 30, 2009 8:35 AM EST reply actions

YAY!!!

So happy for Flash!!! I hope he does a great job for Team Czech Republic! :-) :-) :-)

by IRockTheRed on Dec 30, 2009 8:35 AM EST reply actions

That’s a pretty nice, balanced team there. Vokes gets hot and they could surprise.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Dec 30, 2009 8:36 AM EST reply actions

Pretty good defense group.

My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.

by jordanDC on Dec 30, 2009 8:42 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed – a group of NHL guys who certainly have plenty of experience.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Dec 30, 2009 8:48 AM EST up reply actions

With Hamrlik conspicuously missing, though.

by brs03 on Dec 30, 2009 9:39 AM EST up reply actions

Not a lot of big names to casual fans, but a bunch of solid underrated players for sure. Hope this tourney will showcase Zbynek Michalek for the world. Alzner reminds me a lot of him back when he came into the league. Always has played smater than his age would indicate.

A man gotta have a code

by Carl Putnam on Dec 30, 2009 8:44 AM EST up reply actions

Pavelec is no slouch either.

I could have been equipment manager, but nooooo!

by boutros23 on Dec 30, 2009 8:48 AM EST up reply actions

Wow. Congrats to Flash – good on him.

Unleash the Alex!

by gotsparkly on Dec 30, 2009 8:37 AM EST reply actions

Congrats Flash. Now don’t get hurt

by desperado on Dec 30, 2009 8:45 AM EST reply actions

You’ve made Bruce a very happy man today, Tomas. Congratulations!

Now go kick some Shark tail tonight.

ALEX, FЯEE

by EmilyB on Dec 30, 2009 8:48 AM EST reply actions

What are the odds on BB dousing Flash with Gatorade today?

A man gotta have a code

by Carl Putnam on Dec 30, 2009 8:56 AM EST up reply actions

high.. very high

by highslot84 on Dec 30, 2009 8:58 AM EST up reply actions

and then carefully drying him off?

by ns on Dec 30, 2009 9:03 AM EST up reply actions

Mmmm…sticky.

Unleash the Alex!

by gotsparkly on Dec 30, 2009 9:03 AM EST up reply actions

Not fair!!! Putting those images in my head this early in the day!!!

by IRockTheRed on Dec 30, 2009 9:04 AM EST up reply actions

grossss

by highslot84 on Dec 30, 2009 9:13 AM EST up reply actions

Do they make Ginger Gatorade? Or will they just have to go with Orange?

Atta dinnin stick a who!

by Gould Old Days on Dec 30, 2009 9:29 AM EST up reply actions

Maybe they’ll use ginger ale?

My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.

by jordanDC on Dec 30, 2009 9:31 AM EST up reply actions

Or Rock the Red Gatorade?

by IRockTheRed on Dec 30, 2009 9:31 AM EST up reply actions

Heh. I just looked at the rest of the roster. Columbus’ Hejda was a healthy scratch last night in favor of Slovak Olympian Jurcina.

ALEX, FЯEE

by EmilyB on Dec 30, 2009 8:51 AM EST reply actions

I think they wanted to see what Jurcina could do. I actually watched the game; he wasn’t bad but wasn’t wonderful either.

Unleash the Alex!

by gotsparkly on Dec 30, 2009 8:55 AM EST up reply actions

Did he keep his number?

My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.

by jordanDC on Dec 30, 2009 9:00 AM EST up reply actions

Yep; he’s skating in #23.

by IRockTheRed on Dec 30, 2009 9:01 AM EST up reply actions

And Clark?

My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.

by jordanDC on Dec 30, 2009 9:02 AM EST up reply actions

#11.

Unleash the Alex!

by gotsparkly on Dec 30, 2009 9:02 AM EST up reply actions

Poor guy.

My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.

by jordanDC on Dec 30, 2009 9:11 AM EST up reply actions

Yes. Clark’s skating in #11.

Unleash the Alex!

by gotsparkly on Dec 30, 2009 9:02 AM EST up reply actions

Hejda played last night. Only D scratched (at least according to this box score) was Commodore, who hurt himself last week.

by Cluster on Dec 30, 2009 9:24 AM EST up reply actions

Hejda was most certainly not a healthy scratch. He had a real good game. It was great to watch him do his thing up close.

In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.

by Rob Parker on Dec 30, 2009 12:12 PM EST up reply actions

Quiet, but very effective.

Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!

by Knee high to a duck on Dec 30, 2009 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

Congrats to Flash. He’s definitely earned it this season with his solid (and consistent) play.

I need 100% of you guys to give 110% 100% of the time.

by capsfan4life on Dec 30, 2009 8:57 AM EST reply actions

Great news for Flash, albeit expected. Still, this has to be an honor for the forward who’s been playing very solid.

Now it looks like we just need to cross our fingers for Greenie

by Mill Burray on Dec 30, 2009 9:00 AM EST reply actions

If Green makes Team Canada, then my teams for this year’s Olympics will be:

1) USA
2a) Russia
2b) Czech Republic
4) Mike Green
5) Anybody who’s playing Team Canada. I really do not want them to win gold this year…!

by IRockTheRed on Dec 30, 2009 9:03 AM EST up reply actions

That’s very similar to my teams for the Olympics this year if Green makes team Canada.
1) USA – of course
2) Russia (aka “The 08-09 Capitals”)
3) Sweden – love me some Backstrom
4) Mike Green
5) Anyone who’s playing Canada – I really don’t want to see them on the top podium either.

by Mill Burray on Dec 30, 2009 9:11 AM EST up reply actions

1) USA
2) Sweden
3) Russia
4) Finland (Go Sami!)

My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.

by jordanDC on Dec 30, 2009 9:13 AM EST up reply actions

Same here…but replace FInland with the Czech team.

by Yoshietree on Dec 30, 2009 12:10 PM EST up reply actions

Big surprise the canadians left him off.

by brettpedigo on Dec 30, 2009 4:39 PM EST up reply actions

by Ginga on Dec 30, 2009 10:18 AM EST up reply actions

Now it looks like we just need to cross our fingers for Greenie

I’m not. I don’t want him on that team.

Lobbies: Green, Carlson

by CapsFan2020 on Dec 30, 2009 9:47 AM EST up reply actions

It would certainly make it easier to cheer against Team Canada…

by IRockTheRed on Dec 30, 2009 9:59 AM EST up reply actions

Looking at the unknowns...

Jakub Štěpánek (Vitkovice HC Steel) is, according to hockeydb.com, a 3rd year pro, 23 years old(ish), 6’1" tall, 156#… he played 7 games for Vitkovice last year (they don’t have this year’s stats up yet, and I’m looking for them on Vitkovice’s website, but my command of Czech is not spectacular… I found his page, but there is no information on the stats there). In those 7 games, he had a GAA of 3.13 and a SV% of 0.928. The save percentage isn’t too shabby, but he seems to let a lot of shots get by him, so if he ends up in net, the Russians may well be able to exploit that to their advantage.

Miroslav Blatak (Salavat Yulaev Ufa) was a 2001 draft pick for the Detroit Red Wings, but has not played in North America. He is 27 years old, 6’0", 174#, and shoots left. He started his professional career with Zlin ZPS HC in the Czech Republic, and has played for Ufa for the past three seasons. This year, he has 4G, 8A, and 8 PIM in 39 GP.

Petr Cajanek (SKA St. Petersburg) was a 2001 draft pick for the St. Louis Blues. He started his career for Zlin ZPS HC, then played for the St. Louis BLues from 2002-2004, returned to Zlin for the lockout year, then back to the Blues until 2007-08, when he played a few games for the Peoria Rivermen before going to Russia. Since his move to the KHL, Cajanek has played for Ak-Bars Kazan; Dinamo Moscow; and now SKA St. Petersburg, one team per season. This year with SKA, in 35 games, he has 15G, 12A, and 42 PIM.

Roman Cervenka (Slavia Praha HC) has never played in North America, nor has he been drafted to the NHL. He is 24 years old, 5’7" tall, 127#, and shoots left. In his six professional seasons, he has played only for Slavia Praha HC. This year, in 35 games played, he has 24G, 31A, and 38 PIM.

Tomas Rolinek (Metallurg Magnitogorsk) is a teammate of our beloved Sergei Fedorov, so I’ve been following him all season. In 40 games for Metallurg this year, he has 14G, 11A, and 18 PIM. Undrafted, he has never played in North America. He’s 29 years old, 5’9", 172#, and shoots left. He has played the bulk of his career for Pardubice HC
in the Czech Republic, but for 2003-04, when he played for Liberec Bili Tygri HC and Litvinov CHP HC; he’s been with Metallurg since last year.

by IRockTheRed on Dec 30, 2009 9:01 AM EST reply actions

He is 24 years old, 5’7" tall, 127#,

Gives me hope that if i move to Russia i can play pro hockey. At 127# he must get pushed around quite a bit!

by highslot84 on Dec 30, 2009 9:17 AM EST up reply actions

SRSLY. I double-checked myself again, to make sure I wasn’t being numbers-dyslexic or something, but he is. 5’7" tall, 127#. He’s the same height and weight as my MOM!

by IRockTheRed on Dec 30, 2009 9:20 AM EST up reply actions

Those are ridiculous numbers for a guy that tiny, though.

by DrinkingPartner on Dec 30, 2009 9:27 AM EST up reply actions

I'm betting on a typo

187 lbs according to eurohockey. There’s no way you could play against adults at 127 lbs.

My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.

by jordanDC on Dec 30, 2009 9:30 AM EST up reply actions

Possibly Kilograms since he’s in a metric country

by MetalCap on Dec 30, 2009 9:38 AM EST up reply actions

I was thinking it’s an awfully low number… I’d go with eurohockey’s numbers, then. :-)

by IRockTheRed on Dec 30, 2009 9:44 AM EST up reply actions

I’m 5’8" (and female) and when my weight dipped to 125, the doctors were flipping out. Absolutely has to be a typo.

Fun fact: A popular opinion can still be stupid.

by RedBirdie on Dec 30, 2009 10:47 AM EST up reply actions

127kg is more appropriate for an NFL defensive linesman.

Caps fan in Minnesota

by ennisj471 on Dec 30, 2009 1:22 PM EST up reply actions

Such a fetching Olympic pose ...

could be nice on an Olympic Gold Coin

by renhoak on Dec 30, 2009 10:08 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

But Barcelona 1992 (25th Olympiad) was the Summer Games. I don’t get it.

Atta dinnin stick a who!

by Gould Old Days on Dec 30, 2009 10:19 AM EST up reply actions

Well, if they put hockey in with the Summer Games in 2016, then they wouldn’t have to disrupt the NHL to play it… :-)

by IRockTheRed on Dec 30, 2009 10:24 AM EST up reply actions

You Know...

Ice hockey was first played in the Summer Olympics in 1920:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey_at_the_1920_Summer_Olympics

Of course, the Winter Olympics didn’t start until 1924.

Interesting format too. There was a single elimination to determine the gold medal winner (Canada), followed by a single elimination of the teams Canada beat to award a silver medal (USA), and then a single elimination of the teams Canada and the USA beat to determine the bronze (won by Czechoslovakia).

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Pivonka on Dec 30, 2009 12:24 PM EST up reply actions

My recommendation — play hockey in the “winter” Olympic year but in the summer. For example, play the Sochi games of 2014 in summer time. (If they’re building an indoor hockey rink there, they should be fine, in the weather department.)

Rocking the Red since 1975

by CapsFan75 on Dec 30, 2009 6:03 PM EST up reply actions