Hockey World Championship 2025: Heineman talked to Slafkovsky before the tournament

Stockholm. A favorite of the opening match of Slovakia at MS in hockey 2025 you wouldn’t look for a long time. The rejuvenated selection of coach Vladimír Országh encounters strong home Sweden.

The hockey players of the “three crowns” totally dominate the statistics of mutual matches. The Slovaks won over them last 19 years ago.

They will also be a favorite on Friday at 20:20. The Swedish selection is full of NHL players. Up to 19 hockey players came from the elite competition.

These include young Montreal striker Emil Heineman. The teammate Juraj Slafkovský played 62 matches in the current season, scoring 10 goals and 8 assists. The Stockholm championship will be premiered for him.

Shortly before the start of the tournament, the 23-year-old found a few minutes for Slovak journalists and answered several questions.

How do you feel before the start of the tournament?

I’m really excited. I look forward to the tournament. We play at home so it will be a full hall.

Do you expect a similar atmosphere as during the Montreal playoffs?

Yes. The playoffs in Montreal were incredible and I expect many people to come here. It will probably be very similar.

In the main hall Avicii Arena there is a large ice rink, it has a larger width compared to the overseas dimensions. What will it happen to you for another ice?

Certainly it will be a little different. I suppose we will have to go gradually, alternating from alternation. On a larger ice it is a completely different game. You have more space, but your opponent has it. You have to be absolutely sure of what you are doing.

You play against Slovakia on Friday. Did Juraj Slafkovský tell you something about the team, with whom you work in Montreal?

Yes, I talked to him a little. You have a very good team. In the past I played with Peter Cehlárik and Marek Hrívik. We’ll see. It will certainly be a very fun match.

Slafkovsky said he was not injured, but did not come to the championship. Are you surprised that Stockholm is missing?

He knows his body best. If he could play and was ready, he would certainly come.

With the Montreal team, after four years, you got to the playoffs. How do you evaluate the last club season?

Throughout the year there is a pleasure to play. We took it day after day and we were still fighting. Playing the playoffs was an excellent experience and we will try to take the next step ahead next year.

It is said that the atmosphere in Montreal Bell Center cannot be described during the playoffs. Do you agree?

It was really crazy. For example, when I shot from the blue line and seemed to go to the gate, I thought in my head: Wau, the arena explodes after this. Even outside the arena there were many people who watched the match.

This is something I have never experienced before. I will remember it for a long time and I believe that we will get to the playoffs next year.

Montreal has many young players. You, Juraj Slafkovsky, Nick Suziki and others. Will you have even higher expectations in the next season?

Already this year we have been a great success and the future we want to take the next step ahead. You always want to improve, so we certainly want to do more.

The pressure on you as a home team will be at the MS Great. What does it mean to you to play the Championship at home in Sweden?

It means a lot to me. When you play at home, you have friends and family in the arena. It’s pure joy. We will fight for our team, for people who come here, even for those who will watch the match at home.

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