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The nomination of the Slovak hockey team at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, China (February 4-20) includes a pair of 17-year-old talents Šimon Nemec and Juraj Slafkovský, and 19-year-old defender Samuel Kňažko will also perform under the Olympic rings.
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The program of hockey matches of Slovakia at the Winter Olympics in Beijing
Six players will repeat their participation in the Olympic Games after four years, Patrik Rybár, Branislav Konrad, Peter Čerešňák, Marek Ďaloga, Michal Tchaikovsky a Michal Krištof also got nominated for the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyongyang.
A squad of Slovaks for the games began to take shape at the August qualification in Bratislava, in which Craig Ramsay’s trustees secured their participation in China. At that time, the arrival of players from the overseas NHL was still planned, but the management of the profiliga shortly before Christmas canceled their participation.
In addition to qualifying, the Slovak hockey players also presented themselves in two other tournaments. After the triumph over Switzerland 7: 1 in the German Cup, they lost in the match for the winning trophy with the home Germany 1: 4. In December, at the NaturEnergie Challenge in Vispe, Switzerland, they defeated Latvia 6: 2 and lost 2: 3 in the home team. It was also their last match before the Olympics.
After both tournaments, the general manager of the national team, Miroslav Šatan, stated that some players pleasantly surprised the implementation team. Five of the Tipos Extraliga finally reached the Olympic Games – Peter Zuzin, Samuel Takáč, Adrian Holesinsky, Pavol Regenda a Simon Nemec. Nine players are from the Czech extra league, six from the KHL, two from the highest Finnish and Swiss competitions.
ŠATAN EQUIPPED A PRIEST. ORANGE WITHOUT OLYMPICS
Photo gallery
Miroslav Satan
Source: TASR
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Defender Kňažko plays in the overseas WHL and since he has signed a contract with Columbus, Satan had to deal with his nomination for a longer time. “I communicated with general manager Jarm Kekäläinen. He has a contract in the NHL, but he plays in the WHL and in Columbus, he supported his participation. We expected it to happen. That’s why Samo was the last player on the list.” Satan told a news conference on Tuesday.
The team lacks Róbert Lantoši, who played at the World Championships in Riga and also at the August Olympic qualifiers. “We’ve selected players that fit into our system. There may be surprises for you, but we’ve selected them in several ways,” said Satan.
Three young men, Nemec, Slafkovský and Kňažko, were nominated for the last three quarters of the year and completed the last year’s Olympic qualifying tournament with the national team at last year’s World Championships in Riga. “The three players were convinced at the last World Cup and the Olympic qualifiers. For example, the German had excellent matches at the World Cup under 20, although only two, but he showed performance again and it would be a shame not to take him. “Slafkovsky is in the draft rankings. All three should be the future of the national team.” said Satan.
WILL THE SECOND OLYMPICS BE EASIER?
Photo gallery
Craig Ramsay
Source: TASR
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Ramsay admitted that creating a team was not easy. “Creating a team is never an easy process. We communicate with different countries very often and we have to make decisions. I always say that nothing is perfect. We have to work on what we want to show and achieve. I have long thought that on our team is good speed and how much pressure we can put on other teams and if we build on that, we can improve our game, “ said the coach.
Ramsay hopes that the second Olympics will be easier for him than the first in the Republic of Korea: “I put a lot of pressure on myself, I suffered every detail and I didn’t enjoy it the way I should. I thought too much, but I always tell the players that when the match starts, they don’t have to think about anything, just to the game. “
Five players from the highest domestic competition were also included in his selection. “We must not forget our extra league, it is very important. It is true that we see these players the most, but in the matches they played for us, they appealed to us extremely much and we liked their game, approach and team dedication.” said the Canadian coach.
The national team management also counts on possible complications due to injuries or coronavirus and therefore still communicates with all 44 players who were on the wider list of adepts for Beijing.
CUSTOD FROM MICHALOVICE DOES NOT TRAVEL TO BEIJING
The national team management had to deal with a change in the implementation team at the last minute. After the recent events in Michalovce, the custodian was replaced. “We have been cooperating with Marek Jenčík for about a year, he is new to the national team. We are sorry for what has happened and it will be investigated by an independent disciplinary commission. “If his innocence comes to light, he will have the door open in the future.” Satan added.
BUBBLE TERMS ARE NOT KNOWN
The national team will fly from Vienna to Beijing on February 2. Due to the strict covid regulation, players and members of the implementation team should meet at the meeting in Slovakia a few days before. The conditions of the domestic bubble and the date of its start are still definitely unknown.
In Beijing, they will play three matches in the basic phase of the tournament. The fights in the C-group will open on Thursday, February 10 at 5.10 CET at the National Stadium in Beijing with a duel against Finland. A day later, at 9.40 CET, they will compete against the Swedes in the Wukesong Arena. On Sunday, February 13, they will close the performance in the basic phase at 5.10 CET with a match against Latvia.
The winners of the groups and the best team among the second places will have a certain participation in the quarterfinals. The remaining eight participants will compete in the quarterfinal qualifiers, from which the other four quarterfinalists will emerge. The final duel is scheduled for February 20 at 5.10 CET at the National Stadium in Beijing.
Nomination of Slovakia for the Olympic Games 2022:
Goalkeepers:
Patrik Rybar (Dinamo Minsk / KHL)
Branislav Konrad (HC Olomouc / Czech Republic)
Matej Tomek (HC Kometa Brno / Czech Republic)
Defenders:
Marek Ďaloga (HC Kometa Brno / Czech Republic),
Martin Marinčin (HC Oceláři Třinec / Czech Republic),
Peter Ceresnak (HC Plzen / CR),
Mário Grman (HPK Hämeenlinna / FIN),
Michal Tchaikovsky (Sibir Novosibirsk / KHL),
Martin Gernát (HC Lausanne / CHE),
Simon Nemec (HK Nitra),
Samuel Kňažko (Seattle Thunderbirds / USA / WHL)
Attackers:
Libor Hudáček (Dinamo Minsk / KHL),
Miloš Kelemen (BK Mladá Boleslav / Czech Republic),
Michal Krištof (HC Kometa Brno / Czech Republic),
Marko Daňo (HC Oceláři Třinec / Czech Republic),
Miloš Roman (HC Oceláři Třinec / Czech Republic),
Juraj Slafkovský (TPS Turku / FIN),
Tomas Jurco (Barys Nur-Sultan / KHL),
Peter Cehlárik (Avangard Omsk / KHL),
Marek Hrivik (Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod / KHL),
Kristián Pospíšil (HC Davos / CHE),
Samuel Takáč (HC Slovan Bratislava),
Pavol Regenda (HK DUKLA Ingema Michalovce),
Adrián Holešinský (HK Nitra),
Peter Zuzin (HKM Zvolen)
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