Czech Republic

The Czech Republic inherited one of hockey's proudest traditions when Czechoslovakia split in 1993, and it wasted little time building its own golden era. Playing a fast, skill-heavy style, the Czechs became one of the most feared teams in the world through the late 1990s and 2000s. Their red, white, and blue jerseys have been synonymous with clutch international performances ever since. Backed by a deep domestic Extraliga, the program remains a perennial medal contender.

Czech ice hockey traces its governing body back to 1908, though the modern Czech Republic national team formed after Czechoslovakia's 1993 split. The Czechs immediately became a world power, winning three straight IIHF World Championships from 1999 to 2001 after also taking gold in 1996, then adding further titles in 2005 and 2010 for six golds overall. The 2005 tournament is especially notable as the only Worlds where every top NHL player was available, due to that season's NHL lockout. Stars like Jaromír Jágr and Dominik Hašek anchored the program's golden generation.