Photo: Facebook Hockey Slovakia
Slovaks have been waiting for real success at the World Cup since 2012, when Zdeno Chára lifted the silver plaque above his head after the final. Since then, Slovakia has only advanced to the top eight three times. This is the year it should finally come out of the shadows.
The Slovaks have the fourth youngest team in the tournament. While Radim Rulík took only two representatives of the youngest generation (Špaček and Dostál) to the World Cup, the Slovaks have eleven hockey players under the age of 24. Among them, generational talents Slafkovský and Nemec stand out, while the oldest fighters are Tomáš Tatar and Libor Hudáček (33 years old).
Craig Ramsay (perhaps at his very last World Cup?) will rely on eight reinforcements from overseas, while the core of the team is made up of bronze medalists from the 2022 Olympics. And in terms of starting at the World Cup, the Slovaks have an even more experienced team than the domestic Czech team.
In Ostrava, they will also be driven by a full hall with the expectation of a clear advance to the quarter-finals, where, given the composition of the Slovak squad, not a single team from the Prague group may be a difficult obstacle. But the biggest challenge for now will be the matches against Germany, Sweden and the USA. And it is in them that it will be shown how the strongest selection of Slovakia in recent years really is on paper.
Hokej.cz tip for the final position: 8.
The personality of the team – Tomas Tatar
33 years old, silver from the 2012 World Cup. And despite the fact that he has not yet signed a new contract in Seattle, he is going to the World Cup as captain to show that he can build on last year’s (highly successful) season – only if he is given space and a suitable role. This did not happen so much in Colorado or with the Krakens, which is why this year Tatar was not as much of an offensive leader as he was in previous years, for example in Montreal or Detroit. How will he do in Ostrava?
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Goalkeepers: Matej Tomek was (especially in the playoffs) one of the best goalkeepers in the extra league, and if he continues the performances from Litvínov, the Slovaks can count on him. In the same way, Hlavaj and Škorvánek are among the goalkeepers who could be interested in outside of Central Europe in the future. Considering the strength of the players in the field, the goalkeeper position is rather a weakness of the Slovakian squad.
Defenders: The Slovaks scored 34 goals out of ten preparatory matches, which is not exactly good news for the defense. But before the WC, Čerešňák from Pardubice and Feherváry strengthened their defense with Nemec and Koch from overseas. So on paper it offers even higher, or at least comparable quality to what the Czechs can offer. After all, Čerešňák was the best defender in the extra league and, despite their youth, the mentioned defenders from overseas already have a lot of experience from big hockey battles. Ivan, Gajdoš, Golian and Grman are in turn honest and reliable defenders in the bottom defensive pairs.
Attackers: The well-matched duo Cehlárik – Hrivik, the skilful Faško-Rudáš or the predatory and productive trio from the champion Třinec? The Slovaks have another five forwards from across the ocean, and although none of them, apart from Slafkovski, had a key and leading role in their teams, Pospíšil, Regenda, Kelemen and Tatar will be very dangerous in front of the opponent’s goal if they get space. Or they create it through emphasis, mobile play and quick attacking. Kudrna, Sukel’ and Cingel also fit Ramsay’s style.
Roster
Goalkeepers: Matej Tomek (HC VERVA Litvínov), Samuel Hlavaj (HC Škoda Plzeň), Stanislav Škorvánek (HC Dukla Michalovce)
Defenders: Michal Ivan (White Tigers Liberec), Mário Grman (HC VÍTKOVICE RIDERA), Andrej Golian (HC Slovan Bratislava), Peter Čerešňák (HC Dynamo Pardubice), Martin Feherváry (Washington Capitals), František Gajdoš (HK Nitra), Patrik Koch (Tucson Roadrunners), Šimon Nemec (New Jersey Devils).
Attackers: Lukáš Cingel (Mountfield HK), Peter Cehlárik, Marek Hrivík (both Leksands IF), Martin Pospíšil (Calgary Flames), Miloš Kelemen (Tucson Roadrunners), Pavol Regenda (San Diego Gulls), Tomáš Tatar (Colorado Avalanche), Juraj Slavkovský ( Montréal Canadiens), Martin Faško-Rudáš (White Tigers Liberec), Andrej Kudrna, Matúš Sukel’ (both HC VERVA Litvínov), Viliam Čacho, Marko Daňo, Libor Hudáček (all HC Oceláři Třinec)
Who to follow? Juraj Slafkovsky
In his second season in the Canadiens jersey, he has fully blossomed and the question is no longer if, but when the 2022 draft pick will be the most productive player and the driving force of his team. A breakthrough season overseas is always a challenge as young players have to build on it – especially in Canada where there is so much pressure. Thanks to hard work, talent and determination, Slafkovský is on the right track. And his third adult World Cup is another stage where he can prove himself. And perhaps follow up on the great performances from the Olympics, where he was elected MVP.
Secret trump card – Martin Pospíšil
Although he was on the ice rather for honest work and his tasks consisted mainly of playing without the puck, the twenty-four-year-old Slovak center scored 24 points in the Calgary Flames jersey. Despite several concussions, the native of Zvolen has earned a solid place in the NHL and will taste the atmosphere of an adult national team for the first time in his career. They were hurried by another honest worker who will not let the fight go and will not concede in front of the goal. In addition, he can send the opponent to the ground hard, or provoke and get the upper hand. He also showed up overseas in several battles.
Talent – Simon the German
He also added a Canadian point to his promising performances in every third game in New Jersey. Defender Nemec has been Slafkovský’s partner since childhood, together they enjoyed silverware from the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, the Olympics and the draft in 2022. This year, the number two of the selection at the time will lead the Slovak defense, just like last year, when the German did not have such support from his teammates and at the tournament he remained clean after five matches. He handled the pressure much better this year, and in the Devils organization, after the German’s first games in the NHL, they immediately recognized that he was already confidently handling the NHL level.
1. noticeable absence – Robert Lantoši
It could have been the fifth World Cup for Mladá Boleslav’s assistant captain, this year he had an excellent season despite the team’s poor performance and thus followed up on the season in Providence or Linköping. However, the 28-year-old Lantoši did not fit into the nomination. “He played very well in training,” confirmed manager Miroslav Šatan. “But with the guys from the NHL coming in, it was hard for him to find a place in the top two fives. I don’t know if we could use him well in the third or fourth five. Out of respect for him, we didn’t want to put him in the role of waiting or substitute. Yes, it was one of the most difficult decisions,” the Slovakian GM described to journalists.
2. noticeable absence – Oliver Eyeglasses
Twenty-three-year-old Slovak striker Oliver Okuliar won a rookie contract with the Florida Panthers with the season of his life in Mountfield in Hradec Králové. Less than a week before the start of the World Cup, however, he dropped out of the national team! Although he did not have ideal form in the extra league play off, he was the club’s best scorer and top scorer in the regular season (24+21). And also in the season for Slovakia, he played in 13 games (11 points), so his elimination was not expected at all.
Coach –Craig Ramsay
In 2004, he was there when Tampa Bay won the Stanley Cup. Within the entire championship, he could be described as the most experienced and professional coach, the Canadian Ramsay is a real coach from the old school at the age of 73. But he surrounds himself with experts, young trainers and is still absorbing new trends. After the Olympic qualification in the summer, he will probably end his seven-year career in Slovak hockey, which he helped to improve the system and the education of talents.
Other
In the final preparation for the World Cup, Slovaks played eight matches. They beat Switzerland twice (3:0, 5:3), played with Germany 3:7 and 5:4 after extra time, lost twice to the Czech Republic (2:4, 1:4), beat Poland (6:1) and were not enough in the general on the USA (2:6). The championship in Ostrava’s group B will start today against Germany (4:20 p.m.). And as we already wrote, the Slovakian roster includes attackers Miloš Kelemen and Martin Pospíšil, but they did not participate in a single preparatory match. He hastened due to a health problem, similar to Libor Hudáček. The question remains how the hastily built squad will manage to adapt. In addition, Marián Studenič, Adam Sýkora or Martin Chromiak could be in the game after possible relegation from the AHL, so the implementation team of Slovakia keeps free places on the roster.
Previous placement at the WC
2023 – 9th place
2022 – 8th place
2021 – 8th place
2019 – 9th place
2018 – 9th place
2017 – 14th place
2016 – 9th place
2015 – 9th place
2014 – 9th place
2013 – 8th place
Schedule of matches at the World Cup
10 May: Slovakia – Germany
May 12: Slovakia – Kazakhstan
May 13: Slovakia – USA
15 th May: Slovakia – Poland
May 18: Slovakia – France
May 19: Slovakia – Latvia
May 21st: Slovakia – Sweden
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