2001 IIHF World Junior Championship

The defending champions could be even better than last year with right winger Pavel Brendl and defenseman Rostislav Klesla in the lineup. Brendl, who scored 132 goals in his first two seasons with the WHL Calgary Hitmen, is making his first WJC appearance. Incredibily, the Czechs did not invite him to play in 1999 and, because of that, Brendl declined an invitation last season. He's the property of the New York Rangers. Klesla, just 18, was the first choice of the expansion Columbus Blue Jackets in 2000, and started this season with the NHL club. Coach Jaroslav Holik, one of the former Czechoslovakia's all-time great players and the father of New Jersey Devils star Bobby Holik, also will employ right winger Radim Vrbata, leading scorer with Shawinigan of the Quebec League; Zdenek Blatny a slick centre from the WHL Kootenay Ice; and defenseman Libor Ustrnul, a 6-5, 230-pound cruncher from the OHL Plymouth Whalers. Zdenek Smid, the splendid goalie who shut out Russia in last year's gold medal game,is overage.