Sochi 2014 - Slovakia, Norway, Switzerland, Austria, Latvia & Slovenia

Slovakia - Unlike its neighbors in the Czech Republic, Slovakia makes no headlines for any head-scratching admissions or curious omissions to its roster. While the Czechs decided to go with their greybeards, the Slovaks didn’t overthink their Olympic plans. Though more than half of the players on Slovakia’s roster is 30 or older, there are no 40-year-olds on the team and the veterans are peppered with young players, like Martin Marincin, Tomas Jurco, Richard Panik and Tomas Tatar, who are all in their early 20s. Every Slovak currently in the NHL (14) made the team and the rest, save for Tomas Marcinko who plays with HC Kosice in Slovakia, all come from the Kontinental League.
Possible snubs include Marko Dano, Milan Jurcina and Miroslav Satan, all of whom played for Slovakia at the 2013 World Championship. But there are at least reasonable reasons for leaving them off. (Still looking for one as to how Petr Nedved makes the Czech Republic roster ahead of Jiri Hudler, Tomas Fleischmann and Radim Vrbata.) Dano, despite being a highly touted first-rounder of the Columbus Blue Jackets, only just turned 19 in November. Jurcina has the hulk (6-foot-4, 253 pounds) and the NHL pedigree (430 games), but his best days are behind him. Satan is now 39 and all but done in the KHL.
Slovakia is coming off its best performance at the Olympics, narrowly missing the bronze medal at the Vancouver Games in 2010. Marian Hossa lead that tournament in scoring with 10 points. But if the Slovaks have any hope of medalling, they will have to get all-world goaltending from Jaroslav Halak circa the 2010 NHL playoffs when he took the Montreal Canadiens to the Eastern Conference final.

The Slovaks were the surprise team four years ago in Vancouver, qualifying for the semifinals and pushing Canada in that round before losing to Finland in the bronze medal game. Chara, the Boston Bruins captain, will anchor a defense corps that includes NHL veterans Andrej Sekera (Carolina Hurricanes), Andrej Meszaros (Philadelphia Flyers), Lubomir Visnovsky (New York Islanders) and Edmonton Oilers rookie Martin Marincin. Hossa, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks, has 12 goals and 25 points in 15 games at the Olympics (three tournaments). He leads a group of forwards that includes Marian Gaborik(Columbus Blue Jackets) and a trio of intriguing young NHL players in Tomas Jurco and Tomas Tatar from the Detroit Red Wings and Richard Panik from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Halak, who beat Russia in the preliminary round and Sweden in the quarterfinals four years ago, will be the No. 1 guy in net again if healthy. He has missed a couple of games recently for the St. Louis Blues because of an illness.

Goaltenders - Peter Budaj, Montreal Canadiens, Jaroslav Halak, St. Louis Blues, Jan Laco, Donbass Donetsk (KHL)

Defensemen - Ivan Baranka, Avangard Omsk (RUS), Dominik Granak, Dynamo Moscow (RUS), Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins, Martin Marincin, Edmonton Oilers, Andrej Meszaros, Philadelphia Flyers, Andrej Sekera, Carolina Hurricanes, Michal Sersen, Slovan Bratislava (KHL), Lubomir Visnovsky, New York Islanders

Forwards - Milan Bartovic, Slovan Bratislava (KHL), Marian Gaborik, Columbus Blue Jackets, Michal Handzus, Chicago Blackhawks, Marcel Hossa, Dinamo Riga (KHL), Marian Hossa, Chicago Blackhawks, Tomas Jurco, Detroit Red Wings, Tomas Kopecky, Florida Panthers, Tomas Marcinko, HC Kosice (SVK), Michel Miklik, Slovan Bratislava (KHL), Peter Olvecky, Slovan Bratislava (KHL), Richard Panik, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tomas Surovy, Dynamo Minsk (KHL), Tomas Tatar, Detroit Red Wings, Tomas Zaborsky, Salavat Yulayev Ufa (RUS)

Norway - Norway is returning 13 members of the 2010 Olympic team to the roster for the 2014 edition in Sochi, the Norwegian hockey federation announced Tuesday. Mats Zuccarello is among the returnees and is the only NHL player on the roster. Zuccarello, who is playing a prominent role for the New York Rangers this season, is on pace for a 60-point season, which would be the best of an NHL career that took flight because of a strong showing for the Norwegians four years ago in Vancouver. Former NHL player Patrick Thoresen, who now plays for SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League, also should be among the top offensive weapons for Norway, which finished 10th in Vancouver but provided a stern challenge for several teams. On defense, Ole-Kristian Tollefson, who had a stint in the NHL, headlines the seven defensemen named. The roster is culled from six different leagues, but the majority of the players come from the Swedish Hockey League or the first division of Norway's professional league. Norway will play in Group B in Sochi, along with Canada, Finland and Austria. The team is coached by Roy Johansen, who will be making an appearance in his 13th consecutive international tournament with Norway's senior national team.

Goaltenders: Lars Haugen, Dinamo Minsk (BLR/KHL), Lars Volden, Espoo Blues (FIN), Steffen Søberg, Valerenga Oslo (NOR)

Defensemen: Alexander Bonsaksen, Valerenga Oslo (NOR), Jonas Holos, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (RUS), Henrik Solberg, Stavanger Oilers (NOR), Daniel Sorvik, Valerenga Oslo (NOR), Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, Farjestad Karlstad (SWE), Mats Trygg, Lorenskog (NOR), Henrik Odegaard, Missouri Mavericks (CHL)

Forwards: Morten Ask, Valerenga Oslo (NOR), Anders Bastiansen, Farjestad Karlstad (SWE), Robin Dahlstrom, Orebro HK (SWE), Kristian Forsberg, MODO Ornskoldsvik (SWE), Mads Hansen, Storhamar Dragons (NOR), Marius Holtet, Farjestad Karlstad (SWE), Sondre Olden, Valerenga Oslo (NOR), Ken Andre Olimb, DEG Dusseldorf (GER), Mathis Olimb, Frolunda Gothenburg (SWE), Mats Rosseli Olsen, Frolunda Gothenburg (SWE), Niklas Roest, BIK Karlskoga (SWE-2), Martin Roymark, Farjestad Karlstad (SWE), Per-Age Skroder, MODO Ornskoldsvik (SWE), Patrick Thoresen, SKA St. Petersburg (RUS), Mats Zuccarello, New York Rangers (NHL)

Switzerland - Switzerland named its roster Monday afternoon for the 2014 Sochi Olympics during a press conference in Zurich. The 25-man roster features eight players from the NHL. Anaheim Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller and Calgary Flames netminder Reto Berra headline the selections, and they are joined by defensemen Raphael Diaz (Montreal Canadiens), Roman Josi (Nashville Presdators). Mark Streit (Philadelphia Flyers) and Yannick Weber (Vancouver Canucks), as well as forwards Damien Brunner (New Jersey Devils) and Nino Niederreiter (Minnesota Wild). The majority of the rest of the roster comes from the Swiss domestic league, including defenseman Mathias Seger, who was named the team's captain. In 2010, the Swiss made it to the quarterfInals of the tournament held in Vancouver before dropping a 2-0 decision to the United States.

Goaltenders: Reto Berra (Calgary Flames), Jonas Hiller (Anaheim Ducks), Tobias Stephan (Genève-Servette HC)

Defensemen: Severin Blindenbacher (ZSC Lions), Raphael Diaz (Montréal Canadiens), Philippe Furrer (SC Bern), Roman Josi (Nashville Predators), Mathias Seger (ZSC Lions), Mark Streit (Philadelphia Flyers), Julien Vauclair (HC Lugano), Yannick Weber (Vancouver Canucks)

Forwards: Andres Ambühl (HC Davos), Matthias Bieber (Kloten Flyers), Simon Bodenmann (Kloten Flyers), Damien Brunner (New Jersey Devils), Luca Cunti (ZSC Lions), Ryan Gardner (SC Bern), Denis Hollenstein (Genève-Servette HC), Simon Moser (Milwaukee Admirals), Nino Niederreiter (Minnesota Wild), Martin Plüss (SC Bern), Kevin Romy (Genève-Servette HC), Reto Suri (EV Zug), Morris Trachsler (ZSC Lions), Roman Wick (ZSC Lions)

Austria - Three NHL players are on the roster for Austria named Tuesday to compete in the 2014 Sochi Olympics, including New York Islanders teammates Thomas Vanek and Michael Grabner, as well as Philadelphia Flyers rookie Michael Raffl. Vanek is the unquestioned star for the Austrians. He has 36 points this season in 41 games split between the Islanders and Buffalo Sabres. For his career he has 265 goals in 626 NHL games. He will be playing in the Olympics for the first time. Raffl has 11 points in 29 games this season, his first with the Flyers after spending the past two seasons playing for Leksand in Sweden Grabner, meanwhile, has five goals and 12 points in 40 games this season. He has 259 NHL games under his belt. The domestic contingent will be led by veteran defenseman Gerhard Unterluggauer, who has played in 239 international games, including Austria's last Olympics in 1998 and 2002. He has 27 points in 38 games with Villacher in the Austrian league this season. The Austrians will play in Group B with Canada, Norway and Finland.

Goaltenders: Bernhard Starkbaum, Brynas Gavle (SWE), Rene Swette, KAC Klagenfurt (AUT), Fabian Weinhandl, KAC Klagenfurt (AUT)

Defensemen: Mario Altmann, VSV Villach (AUT), Florian Iberer, KAC Klagenfurt (AUT), Andre Lakos, Vienna Capitals (AUT), Robert Lukas, EHC Linz (AUT), Thomas Pöck, KAC Klagenfurt (AUT), Matthias Trattnig, Red Bull Salzburg (AUT), Stefan Ulmer, HC Lugano (SUI), Gerhard Unterluggauer, VSV Villach (AUT)

Forwards: Michael Grabner, New York Islanders (NHL), Raphael Herburger, EHC Biel (SUI), Thomas Hundertpfund, Timra IK (SWE), Matthias Iberer, EHC Linz (AUT), Thomas Koch, KAC Klagenfurt (AUT), Andreas Kristler, Red Bull Salzburg (AUT), Manuel Latusa, Red Bull Salzburg (AUT), Brian Lebler, EHC Linz (AUT), Daniel Oberkofler, EHC Linz (AUT), Michael Raffl, Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), Thomas Raffl, Red Bull Salzburg (AUT), Oliver Setzinger, Lausanne HC (SUI), Thomas Vanek, New York Islanders (NHL),Daniel Welser, Red Bull Salzburg (AUT)

Latvia - Buffalo Sabres rookie Zemgus Girgensons is the only current NHL player on Latvia's 25-man roster for the 2014 Sochi Olympics, which was announced Tuesday, but there are others with recent NHL experience. Girgensons will be coached in Sochi by the same man with that job currently, Sabres bench boss Ted Nolan. This will be Latvia's fourth straight Olympic tournament and fifth in the country's history. The Latvians have never finished higher than ninth. Eight of the players on the roster are teammates with Dinamo Riga, a Latvian-based team currently fourth in the Western Conference of the Kontinental Hockey League. Among them is former NHL defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh, who played for Latvia in the 2002 and 2006 tournaments but not four years ago in Vancouver. Other recent NHL players include defenseman Oskars Bartulis and forward Kaspars Daugavins. Defenseman Ralfs Freibergs currently plays NCAA hockey at Bowling Green. Here is the 25-man roster for Latvia, which is in Group C with Sweden, Switzerland and the Czech Republic:

Goaltenders - Kristers Gudlevskis, Syracuse Crunch (AHL), Edgars Masalskis, free agent, Ervins Mustukovs, Esbjerg IK (DEN)

Defensemen - Oskars Bartulis, Donbass Donetsk (KHL), Ralfs Freibergs, Bowling Green State University (NCAA), Arturs Kulda, Salavat Yulayev Ufa (KHL), Sandis Ozolinsh, Dinamo Riga (KHL), Georgijs Pujacs, Dinamo Riga (KHL), Krisjanis Redlihs, Dinamo Riga (KHL), Arvids Rekis, Dinamo Riga (KHL), Kristaps Sotnieks, Dinamo Riga (KHL)

Forwards - Armands Berzins, Beibarys Atyrau (KAZ), Martins Cipulis, Dinamo Riga (KHL), Lauris Darzins, free agent, Kaspars Daugavins, Genève-Servette HC (SUI), Zemgus Girgensons, Bufalo Sabres, Miks Indrasis, Dinamo Riga (KHL), Koba Jass, Bili Tygri Liberec (CZE), Martins Karsums, Dynamo Moscow (KHL), Ronalds Kenins, ZSC Lions Zurich (SUI), Vitalijs Pavlovs, Dinamo Riga (KHL), Mikelis Redlihs, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL), Janis Sprukts, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL), Juris Stals, HK Poprad (SVK), Herberts Vasiljevs, Krefeld Pinguine (GER)



Slovenia - On Monday morning, Slovenia was the latest country to announce their team that is led by Los Angeles Kings player Anze Kopitar. While Slovenia is excited for their first Olympic hockey showing, they appear to be overmatched and will enter the field of 12 countries as the lowest ranked squad in the tournament. If there is indeed a Group of Death in the 2014 Winter Olympics, it is Group A. And Slovenia just happens to be in that group, along with USA, Russia and Slovakia. Welcome to the Olympics, guys. Every player on the Slovenian team, including NHL star Anze Kopitar will be an Olympic rookie in Sochi. That doesn’t mean they have to go in all starry-eyed for their first game, which pits them against Russia Feb. 13, but they’re realistic about their chances, too. Kopitar is hopeful, but not expecting any Miracles on Ice.

“Hey, you have a chance to win gold,” said Kings teammate Justin Williams.

But even though Kopitar is part of the only team in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup after entering the playoffs as the eighth seed in its conference, he knows what lies ahead in Sochi.

“It’s a little different. We’re going to go there and give it our all. We’re going to go and compete and put up a fight for sure and I’m sure nobody expects us to win any games, but, you know what? Maybe we can have an upset somewhere.”

The Slovenians know all about upsets, considering they shocked the hockey world last year by just getting to Sochi. Playing in a qualification pool against more established countries, such as Belarus and Denmark, which hosted the tournament, Slovenia went undefeated to take one of the spots up for grabs.

“The last couple of years, our guys have been playing consistently better and better,” Kopitar said. “And once I saw that little group back home, you have to think there’s a chance. And they pulled through.”

The Olympics has the chance to be a very special time for Kopitar, regardless of how the Slovenians fare. His father, Matjaz, is coach of the Slovenian team and his younger brother, Gasper, is a candidate for a roster spot. The 21-year-old is playing this season with Mora in Sweden’s second-tier league.

“We’ll see if my brother makes the team,” Kopitar said. “If he does and we’re all together there, it’s going to be one hell of an experience.”

Of course, it might not be so great to be around the kitchen table at the Kopitar family abode, which has shifted to Manhattan Beach, Calif., with Kopitar’s parents moving to L.A., if Matjaz has to cut Gasper from the team.

Goalies
Luka Gracnar, Andrej Hocevar, Robert Kristan

Defensemen
Blaz Gregorc, Sabahudin Kovacevic, Ales Kranjc, Ziga Pavlin, Klemen Pretnar, Mitja Robar, Matic Podlipnik, Andrej Tavzelj

Forwards
Anze Kopitar - Los Angeles Kings, Jan Mursak - former Detroit Red Wings, Bostjan Golicic, Ziga Jeglic, Anze Kuralt, Ales Music, Ziga Pance, Tomaz Razingar, David Rodman, Marcel Rodman, Robert Sabolic, Rok Ticar, Jan Urbas, Miha Verlic