ZURICH-KLOTEN – The Czech national team has filled its roster by adding forwards Patrik Elias and Milan Michalek.
Elias joins the Czechs after his eleventh season with the New Jersey Devils ended in the first round of the playoffs. The 33-year-old scored 32 goals and had 49 assists in 84 games for the Devils. Elias had nine points (6+3) in seven games in the 2008 World Championship.
Michalek will play for the second time for the senior national team after playing just one World Championship game in 2003. The 24-year-old has just finished his fourth season with the San Jose Sharks. In 83 games, he had 24 goals and 34 assists.
Russia gave its last roster spot to Nikolai Zherdev, the Ukrainian-born top scorer of the New York Rangers. The 24-year-old winger had 23 goals and 35 assists in 82 regular-season games with the Rangers, but no points in seven post-season games.
Belarus added 20-year-old rookie defenceman Dmitri Korobov, who played for Dynamo Minsk (KHL) and in the Belarusian league.
Teams that have not yet announced players for their last roster spots include Denmark (1 skater), Norway (2 skaters) and Switzerland (1 goalie).