Jagr leads Czech Olympic team for Sochi

KAREL JANICEK
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Antti Raanta, left, deflects the puck as New Jersey Devils' Jaraomit Jagr, of the Czech Republic, takes a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Jan. 3, 2014, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

PRAGUE (AP) — Jaromir Jagr will play in his fifth Olympics, leading the Czech hockey team at the Winter Games in Sochi next month.

The 41-year-old right winger has had a solid season so far for the New Jersey Devils, with 13 goals and 21 assists in 43 games.

Jagr was on the Czech team that won gold at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, the first games featuring NHL players. He also helped the Czechs win the bronze medal in Turin in 2006.

The 25-man Czech team was announced by coach Alois Hadamczik on Monday in Prague.

"We consider this team the best," Hadamczik said.

Jagr actually isn't the oldest player on the team. Petr Nedved, who won a silver medal at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics when he played for Canada, was a surprise selection on the team. Nedved is 42 and plays for the provincial team White Tigers Liberec in the Czech league, but Hadamczik said the forward "never disappointed me."

Tomas Plekanec of the Montreal Canadians will be the captain, while Jagr's teammate Patrik Elias, David Krejci of the Boston Bruins and Jakub Voracek of the Philadelphia Flyers are other top Czech forwards.

The Czechs open the tournament Feb. 12 against Sweden and also face Latvia and Switzerland in Group C.