Morning Sports Update
“Very, very honored.”
David Pastrnak waves to a fan before the Bruins-Canadiens game on Jan. 24. AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty
February 5, 2026 | 10:45 AM
2 minutes to read
David Pastrnak’s Olympic role: When the opening ceremony for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics begins on Friday, Bruins fans will experience an enjoyably familiar sight when Team Czechia enters the famed San Siro Stadium.
Bruins winger David Pastrnak will be one of Czechia’s two flag-bearers, along with biathlete Lucie Charvátová.
“I am speechless,” Pastrnak said on Wednesday, per NESN. “Very, very honored.”
“I am going to give them my all,” he added. “Very happy and honored to be able to hold our flag and represent us at the ceremony.”
Czechia will have a tough start to the Games, opening against powerhouse Canada in both teams’ first matchup of the preliminary round on Feb. 12. Still, Pastrnak and his countrymen have proven themselves capable against any national team in the world. In 2024, the Czechs triumphed at the IIHF World Championship (held on home ice).
Pastrnak isn’t the only NHLer who will be a flag-bearer on Friday, as Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers will represent Germany in that capacity.
And for those who speak Czech, here’s Pastrnak finding out about the news.
The opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics begins on Friday (Feb. 6) at 2 p.m. EST.
Trivia: Can you name every Patriots head coach to reach a Super Bowl besides Bill Belichick?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: Three different coaches.
Scores and schedules:
The Celtics defeated the Rockets 114-93 on Thursday. Boston will host the Heat on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
The Bruins lost to the Panthers 5-4 in a shootout. The team now heads into the prolonged February break amid the Winter Olympics (returning to the ice on Feb. 26 at home against the Blue Jackets).
The Patriots are set to face the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX on Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
Discussing the world of sports media: Columnist Chad Finn discussed the Washington Post’s decision to eliminate its sports department.
On this day: In 2017, the Patriots fell into a 28-3 hole in Super Bowl LI. The rest is history, as New England stormed back for an unprecedented 34-28 overtime win.
Daily highlight: An unorthodox approach nonetheless resulted in a Bruins goal after Michael Eyssimont made a timely departure from the penalty box.
Trivia answer: Raymond Berry, Bill Parcells, Mike Vrabel
Hayden Bird is a sports staff writer for Boston.com, where he has worked since 2016. He covers all things sports in New England.
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