The Czech Republic hasn't won gold at the Olympics since 1998, the first year that NHL players went.
The country is bringing along the lone holdover from that team, Jaromir Jagr, who'll be appearing in his fifth Olympics.
The Czechs will be heavy on NHL talent, with 17 players. Other key players are the Boston Bruins' David Krejci, Philadelphia Flyers' Jakub Voracek, Montreal Canadiens' Tomas Plekanec and Jagr's New Jersey Devils' teammates, forward Patrik Elias and defenseman Marek Zidlicky.
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Winnipeg Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec is the lone NHL netminder, but the Czech Republic had limited choices because of an injury to Tomas Vokoun and lack of playing time by Michal Neuvirth. Instead, the country is bringing two Kontinental Hockey League goalies.
Former NHL players Peter Nedved and Tomas Kaberle also made the team.
Surprising NHL omissions are Calgary's Jiri Hudler and Phoenix's Radim Vrbata. They rank third and fourth among Czech scorers in the NHL.
The Czech roster
Goalies: Jakub Kovar, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (Kontinental Hockey League), Ondrej Pavelec, Winnipeg Jets, Alexander Salak, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL).
Defensemen: Michal Barinka, Vitkovice Ostrava (Czech), Radko Gudas, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tomas Kaberle, Kladno (Czech), Lukas Krajicek, Dynamo Minsk (KHL), Zbynek Michalek, Phoenix Coyotes,Michal Rozsival, Chicago Blackhawks, Ladislav Smid, Calgary Flames, Marek Zidlicky, New Jersey Devils.
Forwards: Roman Cervenka, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL), Patrik Elias, New Jersey Devils, Michael Frolik, Winnipeg Jets, Martin Hanzal, Phoenix Coyotes, Ales Hemsky, Edmonton Oilers, Jaromir Jagr,New Jersey Devils, David Krejci, Boston Bruins, Milan Michalek, Ottawa Senators, Petr Nedved, Bili Tygri, Liberec (CZE), Jiri Novotny, Lev Prague (KHL), Ondrej Palat, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tomas Plekanec, Montreal Canadiens, Vladimir Sobotka, St. Louis Blues, Jakub Voracek, Philadelphia Flyers.
SWITZERLAND
The Swiss have 10 players in the NHL and eight will be going to Sochi.
The biggest name is Anaheim Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller, who's back-stopping the NHL's top team and is on an 11-game winning streak.
Most of the NHL names will be on defense: Raphael Diaz, Roman Josi, Mark Streit and Yannick Weber.
The only NHLers not to make the team - injured Ducks defenseman Luca Sbisa and Flames forward Sven Baertschi are on a "side list" of players who could be called upon if there is an injury before the tournament begins next month.
Switzerland tends to play more of a North American style and upset Canada in the 2006 Olympics and pushed Canada to a shootout in the Vancouver Games. It reached the quarterfinals in 2010.
The Swiss roster
Goaltenders: Reto Berra (Calgary Flames), Jonas Hiller (Anaheim Ducks), Tobias Stephan (Genève-Servette HC)
Defensemen: Severin Blindenbacher (ZSC Lions), Raphael Diaz (Montréal Canadiens), Philippe Furrer (SC Bern), Roman Josi (Nashville Predators), Mathias Seger (ZSC Lions), Mark Streit (Philadelphia Flyers), Julien Vauclair (HC Lugano), Yannick Weber (Vancouver Canucks)
Forwards: Andres Ambühl (HC Davos), Matthias Bieber (Kloten Flyers), Simon Bodenmann (Kloten Flyers), Damien Brunner (New Jersey Devils), Luca Cunti (ZSC Lions), Ryan Gardner (SC Bern), Denis Hollenstein (Genève-Servette HC), Simon Moser (Milwaukee Admirals), Nino Niederreiter (Minnesota Wild), Martin Plüss (SC Bern), Kevin Romy (Genève-Servette HC), Reto Suri (EV Zug), Morris Trachsler (ZSC Lions), Roman Wick (ZSC Lions)
SLOVENIA
Slovenia has qualified for the first time. Los Angeles Kings forward, Anze Kopitar, the league's lone Slovenian player, will be the team's go-to guy.
The country will be in the same group as the USA.
The Slovenian roster
Goalies: Luka Gracnar, Red Bull Salzburg (Austria), Andrej Hocevar, Epinal Dauphins (France), Robert Kristan, HK Nitra (Slovakia).
Defensemen: Blaz Gregorc, HC Pardubice (Czech), Sabahudin Kovacevic, Sary-Arka Karaganda (Kazakhstan), Ales Kranjc, Kölner Haie (Germany), Ziga Pavlin, IF Troja-Ljungby (Sweden), Matic Podlipnik, Dukla Jihlava (Czech), Klemen Pretnar, VSV Villach (Austria), Mitja Robar, Krefeld Pinguine (Germany), Andrelj Tavzelj, Rouen Dragons (France).
Forwards: Bostjan Golicic, Briançon Diables Rouges (France), Ziga Jeglic, ERC Ingolstadt (Germany), Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings, Anze Kuralt, Epinal Dauphins (France), Jan Mursak, CSKA Moscow (KHL), Ales Music, Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia), Ziga Pance, Bolzano Foxes (Italy), Tomaz Razingar, IF Troja-Ljungby (Sweden), David Rodman, IK Oskarshamn (Sweden), Marcel Rodman, Schwenninger ERC (Germany), Robert Sabolic, ERC Ingolstadt, Rok Ticar, Kölner Haie (Germany), Jan Urbas, Red Bull München (Germany), Miha Verlic, Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia)
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