Dan Vladar is embracing the Olympic moment with the kind of focus and pride you’d expect from a goaltender carrying the hopes of a hockey-loving nation. The Philadelphia Flyers netminder is suiting up for Czechia at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, and while the Games are just getting underway, Vladar’s mindset is already locked in.
“I still think we can bring a really good team,” Vladar said of Czechia’s Olympic squad. “Obviously, us being Czechs, it’s a little bit different mentality.
So we’re going to have fun. I’m really proud of those guys but once we land, it’s horse blinders for me.
No friends.”
That last line says a lot. Vladar’s not here for the Olympic village experience or the photo ops - he’s here to compete.
And while he’s excited to represent his country, he’s made it clear that the focus leading up to the tournament remained on his NHL club. “Right now I’m just focused on us, and nothing else,” he said, referring to the Flyers before the Olympic break.
That kind of tunnel vision has defined Vladar’s approach all season. Even earlier in the year, when the Olympic roster was still a dream rather than a reality, his priorities were clear: “Obviously, it would be a dream come true for me to go represent my country, but at the same time, I’m focusing on the Flyers right now and I’m trying to do everything for team success here.”
Now that the dream is real, Vladar finds himself sharing the Czech crease with fellow NHL goaltenders Lukas Dostal and Karel Vejmelka. It’s a solid trio, and Vladar’s recent play has him right in the mix to take on a starting role. Czechia opened its men’s hockey tournament play on February 11, and while the road ahead includes facing off against NHL-stacked rosters, Vladar’s confidence in his group is unwavering.
There’s also a personal touch to his Olympic journey. Vladar’s goalie mask for the Games features a tribute to his hometown - a reminder of where it all started and what he’s playing for. It’s a symbol of pride, identity, and purpose.
Czechia is back on the ice tomorrow morning, with puck drop set for 10:40 a.m. local time. Whether Vladar gets the nod or not, his presence in net - and his mindset - are exactly what you want from a goaltender on the Olympic stage: calm, committed, and ready for the moment.