Czechia loses Boston center Pavel Zacha for Milan Cortina Games due to injury
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault (35) stops Boston Bruins center Pavel Zacha (18) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Boston, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Credit: AP/Robert F. Bukaty
MILAN — Czechia has to do without Pavel Zacha at the Milan Cortina Games as the Boston Bruins center will not recover in time from injury for the Olympic hockey tournament in a blow for the Czechs.
The Czech team said Saturday that Zacha will be replaced by Filip Chlapík from Sparta Prague in the Czech league.
The Czechs announced the change after it was approved by the International Olympic Committee. They received the bad news from Boston manager general Don Sweeney on Friday evening.
Zacha left the Bruins' 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 30 during . He has 15 goals and 22 assists in 54 games for the Bruins this season.
The Czechs open the Olympic tournament against Canada on Feb. 12.
