14 months ago it was great fame. Slovak ice hockey players defeated Sweden in the fight for 3rd place at the Beijing Olympics and celebrated the sensational win of bronze medals.
Photo: TASR, Jaroslav Novák
Slovak ice hockey players celebrate their bronze medals at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Slovaks could get another chance for success under the five rings at the 2026 Olympics, which will be hosted by Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
To get there, they have to meet certain conditions. As the portal informs olympic.skThe Slovaks will secure direct progress to the 2026 Olympics if they reach 8th place in the IIHF rankings after the May championships in Latvia and Finland.
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If they fail to do so, they will get a chance in Olympic qualification. It will culminate next year in September.
In Milan 2026, twelve teams will be represented again. An interesting condition is that hockey players born before December 31, 2008 can play at the Olympics in Italy, players born in 2009 and 2010 can get an exception.
Slovakia is in 7th place in this year’s pre-championship ranking, which does not include results from the 2019 WC and includes points for the last place at the 2023 WC.
The Slovaks will appear in the B-group at the 2023 WC, the matches will be played in the Riga Arena. Their opponents will be Canada, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Latvia, Norway, Slovenia and Kazakhstan.
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As he reminds olympic.skcompared to the publication of the ranking after the World Cup 2022, Slovakia improved by one position when it jumped Switzerland.
Russia is also in the ranking, which is suspended from IIHF competitions and belongs to the 3rd position.
IIHF rankings before the WC 2023
Men: 1. Finland 3480, 2. Canada 3370, 3. Russia 3320, 4. USA 3260, 5. Sweden 3180, 6. Czech Republic 3155, 7. Slovakia 3150, 8. Switzerland 3135, 9. Germany 3095, 10. Denmark 2980.
