Flyers Teammates Set to Become Olympic Rivals: Vladař Anticipates Showdown with Sanheim
The camaraderie of the Philadelphia Flyers locker room will be temporarily suspended as goaltender Dan Vladař and defenseman Travis Sanheim prepare to trade their NHL jerseys for national colors. With Vladař confirmed to represent Czechia and Sanheim suiting up for Team Canada, the upcoming Olympic tournament promises a unique psychological battle between the two teammates. Reacting to the schedule that puts their nations on a collision course, Vladař remarked, “That’s going to be a fun one.”
This matchup carries significant weight against the backdrop of the NHL’s return to the Winter Olympics, a stage professional players have not graced since 2014. For the Flyers organization, it highlights the depth of their roster, but for Vladař and Sanheim, it inverts their professional relationship. Typically, Sanheim is tasked with clearing the crease and blocking shots to protect Vladař; in this tournament, Sanheim will be orchestrating plays to dismantle Vladař’s defense. The goalie faces the unique challenge of stopping shots from a defenseman whose shooting tendencies he sees in practice every day, while Sanheim attempts to exploit the weaknesses of the man he usually defends.
However, the characterization of this duel as simply “fun” may underplay the competitive friction such matchups create. While pre-tournament exchanges are often lighthearted, the suspension of friendship on the ice is a harsh requirement of elite competition. Knowing a teammate’s vulnerabilities can add immense pressure, and the psychological toll of eliminating a friend from medal contention is real. Furthermore, the intense rivalry between historic hockey powerhouses like Canada and Czechia leaves little room for sentimentality. Once the puck drops, the shared Flyers bond becomes a liability, and the “fun” Vladař anticipates will likely be reserved strictly for the victor.
