PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- Jaromir Jagr was chosen as captain of the Czech Republic Olympic hockey team, which will try to defend its gold medal at next year's Salt Lake City Games.

	Jagr

The Washington Capitals star took on the job during a meeting with coach Josef Augusta, the CTK news agency reported Thursday.

"He agreed and is looking forward to playing," Augusta said.

The right wing follows Vladimir Ruzicka, who led the Czech Republic to the gold medal in Nagano in 1998.

Jagr, the league's scoring champion the last four seasons, will be joined on the team by fellow NHL players Dominik Hasek, Martin Rucinsky, Patrik Elias, Petr Sykora and Milan Hejduk.