Slovak Hockey Team Prepares for WC with Double Match Against Czech Republic, Including Return of Richard Pánik.

BRATISLAVA – After two triumphs in Switzerland (2:0, 3:2 pp), the second double match awaits the Slovak hockey players as part of the final preparation for the WC in Riga.

On Thursday and Friday in Ostrava – Poruba, they will be tested by the home Czechs (both matches at 5:10 p.m.). Coach Craig Ramsay’s men are looking forward to the derby and welcome a quality check. Against the Czech Republic, they will also play with the experienced Richard Panik.

The 32-year-old winger returns to the national team after four years. The last time he wore the national team jersey was at the home world championship 2019 in Bratislava and Košice. Pánik was contractually bound by a contract in the NHL, but his contract expired and he became a free agent.

He played four games for the New York Islanders last year, and played the rest of the season in the AHL. He spent the current year 2022/2023 on loan at the Swiss club HC Lausanne.

“Rišo needed to go through the process related to his contract in the NHL. Everything is now in order. He is ready to play for the national team, we can’t wait,” said Peter Frühauf, assistant coach and scout of the national team, for hockeyslovakia.sk.

“He is an experienced player, he has played many duels in the NHL. We will expect a leadership approach from him. We also know about his other qualities. He is strong in fights, strong in puck possession, he can serve his teammates with passes. We hope that he will also help the national team with goals. “

Apart from Panik, only Skorvánek

The SR squad has not changed much compared to the previous preparatory block, apart from Pánik, only goalkeeper Stanislav Škorvánek from Michaloviec has been added to it, and Brno striker Andrej Kollár has dropped out due to injury.

Škorvánek joined the team after successful performances in the Tipos extraliga playoffs. Michalovce were eliminated by Dukla Trenčín in the qualifiers, Slovan Bratislava in the quarter-finals and lost to Košice in seven games in the semi-finals. Škorvánek is looking forward to the confrontation with the Czechs: “We also have them in the basic group at the World Cup, it will be an interesting double match. It will be a quality test for us.”

Škorvánek completed the trio of goalkeepers Samuel Hlavaj, Šimon Latkóczy and Matej Tomek in the national team. “You all saw what he showed in the playoffs, he is here deservedly. We have enough goalkeepers, they are balanced, everyone has a chance to get nominated and I am looking forward to how they will fight for it.” said assistant national team coach Peter Frühauf.

Nine players from the current national team played in the Czech extra league this season. The rivals know each other well from previous interstate fights. “It’s a derby and we also want the Czech Republic to succeed. I believe that we will be able to bring some victory. I played some matches against the Czech Republic in the junior team, this will be the first sharp one.” Dukla Trenčín attacker Šimon Petráš said.

I expect tougher matches against the Slovaks

The Czechs have had a successful preparatory double match, when they clearly defeated Germany twice in Kassel and Frankfurt (6:2, 5:1). Compared to these fights, their squad has changed significantly, it was strengthened by goalkeeper Šimon Hrubec and five bronze medalists from last year’s WC – defenders Tomáš Kundrátek, Jan Ščotka, Michal Kempný and forwards Vladimír Sobotka and Hynek Zohorna.

Detroit winger Dominik Kubalík has also recently promised to participate in the World Cup with the Czech Republic, but he will not yet play in the upcoming preparatory duels in the RT TORAX Arena.

The Czech team moved from the camp in Pilsen to Ostrava in the past few days. CR coach Kari Jalonen currently has three goalkeepers, nine defenders and 15 forwards at his disposal. “I expect somewhat more demanding matches against the Slovaks than last week in Germany. We had a lot of traveling there, so we gave the team two days off and now they only have two training sessions before the next matches.” said Jalonen for the portal hokej.cz.

SR squad before the preparatory double match against the Czech Republic:

Goalkeepers: Samuel Hlavaj (HC Slovan Bratislava, 3 starts in the representative A-team), Šimon Latkóczy (University of Nebraska/USA, 1), Matej Tomek (HC Litvínov/CZ, 8), Stanislav Škorvánek (Dukla Ingema Michalovce, 1)

Defenders: Michal Beňo (HC Slovan Bratislava, 7 starts in the national A-team/1 goal), Daniel Gachulinec (HC Slovan Bratislava, 30/0), František Gajdoš (HC Nitra, 2/0), Martin Gernát (HC Lausanne/Svaj. , 64/8), Andrej Golian (HC Slovan Bratislava, 8/0), Michal Ivan (White Tigers Liberec/CZ, 28/1), Adam Jánošík (BK Mladá Boleslav/CZ, 92/4)

Attackers: Jozef Baláž (HK Nitra, 7/2), Peter Cehlárik (Leksand IF/Swedish, 42/17), Viliam Čacho (HK Dukla Trenčín, 9/5), Martin Faško-Rudáš (HC Bíli Tygři Liberec/CZ, 22 /1) /CR, 47/7), Mário Lunter (BK Mladá Boleslav/CR, 33/1), Šimon Petráš (HK Dukla Trenčín, 2/1), Matúš Sukeľ (HC Litvínov/CR, 52/9), Samuel Takač ( HC Slovan Bratislava, 22/7), Alex Tamáši (HC’05 Banská Bystrica, 21/4), Richard Pánik (Lausanne HC/Switzerland)

CR squad /source: hokej.cz/:

Goalkeepers: Dominik Pavlát (Škoda Pilsen), Štěpán Lukeš (Energy Karlovy Vary), Šimon Hrubec (Zürich Lions/Svaj.)

Defenders: Petr Zámorský (Škoda Plzeň), Pavel Pýcha (BK Mladá Boleslav), Michal Jordán (SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers/Švaj.), Radek Kučerík, Tomáš Kundrátek, Jan Ščotka (all Kometa Brno), Michal Kempný, David Němeček, Michal Moravčík (all Sparta Prague)

Attackers: Ondřej Beránek, Jiří Černoch (both Energie Karlovy Vary), Kryštof Hrabík (Škoda Pilsen), Filip Chlapík, Michael Špaček (both HC Ambri-Piotta/Švaj.), Jakub Flek, Luboš Horký (both Kometa Brno), Roman Horák, Vladimír Sobotka, David Tomášek (both Sparta Prague), Michal Kovařčík (Mikkelin Jukurit/Fin.), Radan Lenc (HV 71/Swed.), Jiří Smejkal, Hynek Zohorna (both Oskarshamn/Swed.), Adam Najman (White Tigers Liberec)

Program of the preparatory double match in Ostrava – Poruba:

Thursday, April 20
17.10 Czech Republic – SLOVAKIA

Friday, April 21
17.10 Czech Republic – SLOVAKIA

• Author: © List
• Source: TASR