A higher number than usual will battle for their ticket to the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship with the Czech U20 national team.

“We want to make the selection objective and fair,” Petr said about the preliminary roster that includes four goaltenders, 11 defencemen and 18 forwards.

Most of the players come either from Czech teams (20) or have spent the season in North America (13), in particular with Canadian Hockey League teams (10).

Jakub Vrana, who would have played his fourth World Juniors, will be missing due to an injury he suffered in AHL play. For the same reason David Pastrnak, who plays in the NHL for the Boston Bruins, is questionable.

However, Pavel Zacha could play his third World Juniors. Other potential returnees include Vitek Vanecek, Daniel Vladar, Jan Scotka, Dominik Masin, David Kase, Michael Spacek a Daniel Vozenilek.

The team comes together on 13 December in Velke Popovice and fly to Helsinki five days later.

Czech U20 national team preliminary roster

Goaltenders:
Ales Stezka, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
Vitek Vanecek, South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL)
Karel Vejmelka, Kometa Brno
Daniel Vladar, Chicago Steel (USHL)

Defencemen:
Lubos Adam, Slavia Prague
Tomas Havlin, Bili Tygri Liberec
Filip Hronek, Hradec Kralove
Dominik Masin, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
Ondrej Miklis, Sparta Prague
Pavel Pycha, HC Ceske Budejovice
Filip Pyrochta, Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
Alex Rasner, HC Olomouc
Dominik Rudl, Vítkovice Ostrava
Jan Scotka, Dynamo Pardubice
David Sklenicka, Skoda Plzen
Jakub Zboril, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)

Forwards:
Tomas Andres, Slavia Prague
Jiri Cernoch, Sparta Prague
Filip Chlapik, Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)
Lukas Jasek, Ocelari Trincec
Vaclav Karabacek, Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
David Kase, Pirati Chomutov
Filip Kutak, Vitkovice Ostrava
Dominik Lakatos, Bili Tygri Liberec
Jan Ordos, Bili Tygri Liberec
Jiri Smejkal, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Tomas Soustal, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Michael Spacek, Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Simon Stransky, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
David Tomasek, Dynamo Pardubice
Radek Vesely, Pirati Chomutov
Lukas Vopelka, Vita Hasten (SWE-2)
Daniel Vozenilek, Dynamo Pardubice
Pavel Zacha, Sarnia Sting (OHL)

Head Coach:
Jakub Petr