Hossa, Chara, Gaborik lead Slovakia's squad for Vancouver Olympics

Chicago Blackhawks' Marian Hossa, of Slovakia, celebrates his second goal of the NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, during the third period in San Jose, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009.(THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia - Chicago Blackhawks winger Marian Hossa will lead Slovakia at February's Vancouver Olympics.

Hossa is one of 12 NHL players on the 23-player roster announced Tuesday. Also headlining the team are Boston Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara and New York Rangers forward Marian Gaborik, who is tied for the NHL lead in goals.

Former Buffalo Sabres star Miroslav Satan, who has not been picked up by an NHL club this season, will make his fourth Olympic appearance.

Slovakia finished fifth at the 2006 Turin Games.

The other NHL players are goalies Peter Budaj of Colorado and Jaroslav Halak of Montreal; defencemen Milan Jurcina of Columbus, Andrej Meszaros of Tampa Bay, Andrej Sekera of Buffalo and Lubomir Visnovsky of Edmonton; and forwards Pavol Demitra of Vancouver, Michal Handzus of Los Angeles and Tomas Kopecky of Chicago.

Veteran Zigmund Palffy was the lone player from the Slovak Extraliga to be named to the roster. He returned to his hometown team HK 36 Skalica and leads the league in scoring. The 37-year-old winger hasn't played in the NHL since 2005-06 when he was with Pittsburgh.

During their news conference Tuesday, the Slovaks also announced the women's Olympic roster. Slovakia will make its women's hockey debut in Vancouver.

-With files from The Canadian Press