Czechs Back With Win Over Unified Team : Hockey: Rosol’s goal with 3:18 left is good for a 4-3 victory over the former Soviet Union and a share of first place with Canada in Pool B.

With one flick of Petr Rosol’s stick, Czechoslovakia’s hockey reputation regained a luster that had become tarnished by the exodus of its best players to the NHL.

Rosol’s 20-foot shot from the slot with 3:18 to play, set up on a crisp and clever pass by linemate Robert Lang, gave the Czechoslovakian Olympic team a 4-3 upset victory over the Unified Team Wednesday and an immense infusion of self-respect.

“It was a very important win, because in the last few years, for the Czechoslovakian nation, the hockey team didn’t have so much prestige,” said goaltender Petr Briza, who did not allow the Unified Team an even-strength goal. “Sixth place in the world championships, sixth place in the Canada Cup, last place in the German Cup--we need the rest of the world to see the Czechoslovakian team is a good team.”

It played superbly against the Unified Team, which was 55-5-2 in Olympic play while known as the Soviet Union. Lang scored twice and Patrick Augusta once in a game whose pace and skill displayed what hockey can be and too often isn’t at the NHL level.

“This was a great win, against maybe one of the best teams in the world,” said Briza, whose team is tied with Canada for the Pool B lead with six points each.

Wednesday’s victory also allowed the Czechoslovakian players to exorcise bitterness toward the country that once oppressed them. The joy illuminating their faces was generated “because there is a problem for many years between the Russians and the Czechoslovakians,” said defenseman Jiri Slegr, a Vancouver Canuck draft pick. Asked if he meant the Soviets’ 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia, he nodded. “Yeah,” said Slegr, who wasn’t born until 1971.

Igor Dmitriev, assistant coach of the Unified Team, acknowledged that “it’s not so easy right now” to assemble and fund a team that can continue its predecessors’ Olympic dominance. The Soviets won seven of the last nine gold medals.

“Quite a lot of players have gone to play in foreign countries, and that causes some damage to our ice hockey,” he said through a translator. “The level has been decreasing and the players that perform quite well at our national (tournament), they don’t sometimes show that level in international games.”

That was evident Wednesday. “Our team is very young,” said center Viacheslav Bykov, whose usually productive line was silenced by the Czechoslovakians’ relentless checking. “I hope when it has to win, it can win.”