Meet the Team: Czechia's roster for the 2023 World Juniors

Underestimate Czechia at the World Juniors at your own peril. It's been a while since they last medalled, but that hasn't stopped them from taking to the role of tournament spoiler with unmatched enthusiasm. Just ask the Americans after their dreams of gold were dashed by a 4-2 quarterfinals loss to the underdog Czechs this past summer.

There are 15 returning players from that Czech roster that went on to capture fourth in the tournament after losing 3-1 to Sweden in the bronze medal game. If there's one thing this roster isn't short on, it's experience; even if they've suffered some high-profile graduations, their leading scorer and captain from last year's tournament Jan Myšák foremost among them.

Even so, it wouldn't be much of a stretch to suggest that this Czech roster is among the strongest they've assembled in recent years. There are 12 drafted prospects, two first-rounders among them, and a potential top-five pick in this year's draft in their ranks, ready to lead the way for this upstart nation of just under 11 million people that always finds a way to punch above their weight in these tournaments.

So, let's take a look at the Czech roster and introduce you to the team tasked with medalling for the first time since the 2004-05 World Juniors. {{