Czechia forward Pavel Zacha will not play at Milano Cortina 2026 due to an upper-body injury, it was announced Saturday.
Sparta Praha forward Filip Chlapik of the Czech Extraliga will replace him on Czechia’s roster.
A big loss for Czechia 🇨🇿 ahead of the Milan Olympics: Pavel Zacha is out of the tournament with an injury, replaced by Filip Chlapik from the Czech Extraliaga
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 7, 2026
The Boston Bruins centre has not played since Jan. 29 after being injured in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
“It’s sad for our team and, of course, for Pavel because he was very anxious to be here,” Czechia general manager Jiri Slegr said on Saturday. “Unfortunately, he’s hurt. They wouldn’t let him come here so it’s sad”
He had 15 goals and 22 assists for 37 points in 54 games for Boston so far this season while averaging 17:09 of ice time per game.
Chlapik, 28, has 19 goals and 26 assists for 45 points in 45 Czecha Extraliga games so far this season. He spent time in the NHL with the Ottawa Senators from 2017 to 2021, appearing in a total of 57 games over four seasons.
Drawn into Group A, Czechia’s men’s team will open Olympic play on Feb. 12 against Canada.
