The best Blue Jackets from the Czech Republic

As part of the Columbus Blue Jackets 20th anniversary, we’re looking back at the best players from each European hockey power. Previously, we covered the Finns. Today, we head south to the ...

CZECH REPUBLIC

Also known as Czechia, the Czech Republic has been an independent nation in Central Europe since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993. A nation of over 10 million people, it is bordered by its former partner Slovakia as well as Germany, Austria, and Poland.

The Czech national team was at its peak in the 1990s, led by Jaromir Jagr and Dominik Hasek. They won gold at the 1998 Olympics, the first to include NHL players. They added a bronze medal in 2006 but have not medaled since. They…