THE IOWA WILD ROSTER IS A COLLECTION OF DEDICATED TOP LEVEL ATHLETES THAT HAVE COME FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO CHASE THOSE NHL DREAMS. THREE OF THE GUYS ON THIS YEAR’S TEAM HAPPEN TO HAVE A LOT IN COMMON. THEY ALSO HAVE EACH OTHER’S BACKS ON AND OFF THE ICE. HERE’S KCCI SHANNON EARHART, OWNED BY KRIEGER ON THE BACK. CHECK ALONE. ADAM RASKA. ADAM RASKA AFTER SPACEK BLASTS DAVID SPACEK FROM THE BLUE LINE. AND SAMUEL HALAVA. MY GOODNESS. SAMUEL HOLLOWAY, GET EACH OTHER. SO I’M THE GOALIE. DAVID IS D-MAN AND RASK IS FORWARD. WHILE THEIR LINE COMBINATIONS ARE DIFFERENT, THEY ALL SHARE THE SAME KEY. I LIVE WITH DAVID SPACEK AND SAMUEL HOLLOWAY. WE SPEAK CZECH, BUT SAMMY CARLISLE, I SPEAK SLOVAK, BUT IT’S PRETTY, PRETTY SIMILAR. WE FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE THAT WE DON’T LIVE WITH SOME US GUY OR A CANADA GUY. IT’S JUST DIFFERENT. JUST DIFFERENT THAT YOU CAN SPEAK YOUR OWN LIKE YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE. THE WILD HAVE PLAYED FIVE GAMES IN 11 DAYS, AND RASKA WITH AN EARLY RIGHT. BUT HOCKEY FADES WHEN THESE GUYS STEP THROUGH THEIR FRONT DOOR. WE ARE NOT TRYING TO TALK ABOUT HOCKEY WHERE WE ARE RIGHT AT HOME. I DON’T LIKE TALKING AT HOCKEY. LIKE IN MY FREE TIME, QUITE LITERALLY, TRADING THOUGHT FOR FOOD. SAMMY IS A PRETTY GOOD COOK, SO SAMMY DOES MOST OF THE COOKING. I COOK PROBABLY LIKE EVERY MEAL WE HAVE. HE’S ACTUALLY KIND OF A MASTER CHEF. I LIKE TO MAKE MY BURRITOS. THEY’RE AWESOME. WE’RE KIND OF LIKE CUSTOMERS. YEAH, WE SOMETIMES I, I CHIRP HIM THAT IT’S THERE’S A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH OF THAT SHOW THAT HE GETS — OFF. SO COMMUNICATION IS KEY. WHATEVER THE LANGUAGE. I MEAN, WE SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE HERE IN A, IN A IN AN ARENA TOO. AND SOMETIMES THE GUYS GET — OFF. BUT SOME OF THEM LEARN A LOT OF A LOT OF WORDS. SHANNON EARHART, KCCI, IOWA’S SPORTS LEADER. THANK YOU. SHANNON. IOWA HOSTS TEXAS SATURDAY AT 6:00 ON COUNTRY NIGHT. THERE’S A FREE POST GAME. DILLON SCO
When the puck drops at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Iowa will have a strong presence on the international stage.Iowa Wild defenseman David Špaček has been named to Czechia’s roster for the 2026 Olympic men’s hockey tournament, becoming the latest current Wild player to earn an Olympic selection. Additionally, six former Iowa Wild players will represent their home countries, underscoring the organization’s growing impact on the global hockey scene.Špaček, 22, has emerged as one of Iowa’s top blue-liners this season. Through 32 games, he leads the Wild in assists with 14 and ranks second on the team in points with 16. The 6-foot, 190-pound defenseman from Columbus, Ohio, has continued the upward trajectory he established during the 2024-25 season, when he recorded 31 points in 72 games and led Iowa with 18 power-play assists.Over three American Hockey League seasons with Iowa, Špaček has totaled 59 points in 165 games, developing into a reliable two-way defenseman and power-play contributor.Internationally, Špaček is no stranger to high-level competition. He helped Czechia capture gold at the 2024 IIHF World Championship, contributing five assists in 10 games, and added two assists at the 2025 World Championship. He also played a key role in Czechia’s silver medal run at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he recorded 8 points in seven games.Selected by the Minnesota Wild in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Špaček now adds an Olympic appearance to a rapidly growing resume.Iowa’s connection to the Olympics extends well beyond Špaček. Six Iowa Wild alumni will also compete in the 2026 Games, representing a wide range of countries and hockey traditions. Matt Boldy will skate for the United States, while Louis Boudon (France), Joel Eriksson Ek (Sweden), Erik Haula (Finland), Darcy Kuemper (Canada), Nico Sturm (Germany) and Jesper Wallstedt (Sweden) are each set to represent their respective nations.Together, the current and former Iowa Wild players highlight the organization’s role as a development hub for elite international talent — one that reaches from Des Moines all the way to the Olympic stage.
DES MOINES, Iowa —
When the puck drops at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Iowa will have a strong presence on the international stage.
Iowa Wild defenseman David Špaček has been named to Czechia’s roster for the 2026 Olympic men’s hockey tournament, becoming the latest current Wild player to earn an Olympic selection. Additionally, six former Iowa Wild players will represent their home countries, underscoring the organization’s growing impact on the global hockey scene.
Špaček, 22, has emerged as one of Iowa’s top blue-liners this season. Through 32 games, he leads the Wild in assists with 14 and ranks second on the team in points with 16. The 6-foot, 190-pound defenseman from Columbus, Ohio, has continued the upward trajectory he established during the 2024-25 season, when he recorded 31 points in 72 games and led Iowa with 18 power-play assists.
Sam Hodde
David Spacek #82 of the Minnesota Wild controls the puck during the second period of a preseason game against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on September 25, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
Over three American Hockey League seasons with Iowa, Špaček has totaled 59 points in 165 games, developing into a reliable two-way defenseman and power-play contributor.
Internationally, Špaček is no stranger to high-level competition. He helped Czechia capture gold at the 2024 IIHF World Championship, contributing five assists in 10 games, and added two assists at the 2025 World Championship. He also played a key role in Czechia’s silver medal run at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he recorded 8 points in seven games.
Selected by the Minnesota Wild in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Špaček now adds an Olympic appearance to a rapidly growing resume.
Icon Sportswire
Minnesota Wild defenseman David Spacek (82) lines up for a face-off during the NHL preseason game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild on September 28th, 2025, at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Iowa’s connection to the Olympics extends well beyond Špaček. Six Iowa Wild alumni will also compete in the 2026 Games, representing a wide range of countries and hockey traditions. Matt Boldy will skate for the United States, while Louis Boudon (France), Joel Eriksson Ek (Sweden), Erik Haula (Finland), Darcy Kuemper (Canada), Nico Sturm (Germany) and Jesper Wallstedt (Sweden) are each set to represent their respective nations.
Together, the current and former Iowa Wild players highlight the organization’s role as a development hub for elite international talent — one that reaches from Des Moines all the way to the Olympic stage.
Icon Sportswire
Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) looks to pass the puck during the NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and the San Jose Sharks on December 31, 2025 at SAP Center in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Scott Dinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Xavier Laine
Louis Boudon #29 of Team France in action over Lukas Horak #61 and Nik Simsic #12 of Team Slovenia during the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship match between France and Slovenia at Avicii Arena on May 19, 2025 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images)
Harry How
Joel Eriksson Ek #14 of the Minnesota Wild skates after the play with Joel Edmundson #6 of the Los Angeles Kings during a 5-4 shootout loss to the Kings at Crypto.com Arena on January 03, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire
Nashville Predators left wing Erik Haula (56) skates on the ice during the first period of the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild on December 23rd, 2025, at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Harry How
Darcy Kuemper #35 of the Los Angeles Kings in goal in front of Joel Eriksson Ek #14 of the Minnesota Wild and Mikey Anderson #44 during a 5-4 shootout win over the Wild at Crypto.com Arena on January 03, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire
Minnesota Wild center Nico Sturm (78) skates with the puck during the second period of the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild on December 23rd, 2025, at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Gary A. Vasquez
Jesper Wallstedt #30 of the Minnesota Wild protects the goal during the first period against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena on January 3, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gary A. Vasquez/NHLI via Getty Images)