Pavel Zacha Out of Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics: Filip Chlapik Steps In
Czechia will be missing one of its key centers at the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics. Pavel Zacha, a center for the Boston Bruins, will not be able to participate due to an upper-body injury. The Czech ice hockey federation announced that Filip Chlapik will replace Zacha for the tournament. Zacha sustained the injury just before the Olympic break during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 29 and has not played since then.
Pavel Zacha, who is 28 years old, was having a strong season with the Boston Bruins, recording 15 goals and 22 assists in 54 games. He often played as the center on the top line alongside Czech forward David Pastrnak. It remains unclear how Zacha got injured, but he had to leave the game against the Flyers midway through the second period and has not returned to action since then.
In place of Pavel Zacha, Filip Chlapik will represent Czechia at the Olympics. Chlapik currently plays for Sparta Praha in the Czech league and has had a productive season with 19 goals and 26 assists in 45 games. The 28-year-old center, who hails from Prague, was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in 2015 and has NHL experience, with five goals and six assists in 57 games over four seasons.
Czechia's Olympic campaign will kick off on Thursday with a match against Canada. The team will have to adjust to the absence of Pavel Zacha and rely on Filip Chlapik to step up in his place. The tournament will be a test of Czechia's depth and resilience as they aim to compete against top international competition in Milano Cortina 2026.