Hockey World Championship 2025: Slovakia will challenge Canada – what team do they have? (Analysis)
Stockholm. Fifth opponent Slovaks to Hockey World Championships 2025 will be Canada.
Canadian hockey players are among the biggest favorites for winning gold medals. Hockey cradle players have always made it to the semifinals in the last 9 years.
A year ago, they lost in the Czech Championship only from ten matches in the last two – in the semifinals against Switzerland 2: 3 after SN and in a bronze match against Sweden 2: 4.
This year, maple leaves arrived in Stockholm with an extremely experienced team led by the legendary Sidney Crosby. A 40-year-old goalkeeper Marc-André Fleury from Minnesota Wild longs to say goodbye to the gold medal career.
In addition, the team has several world champions (Mackenzie Weegar, Mike Matheson, Ryan O’Reilly) and 5 players from the February Tournament 4 countries (Jordan Binnington, Travis Sanheim, Sidney Crosby, Nathan Mackinnon, Travis finished).
Goalkeepers
Jordan Binnington from St. Louis Blues is currently the best Canadian goalkeeper. The unit was also in the sominan tournament 4 nations.
The two in the team is the mentioned Marc-André Fleury. If the goalkeeper’s coach preserves the regular substitution of the goalies, Jordan Binnington will play in the match against Slovakia.
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Defenders
All defensive couples represent a huge combination of experiences, offensive and defensive skills.
All six defenders scored at least 30 points in the regular season. Most Mackenzie Weegar from Calgary Flames – 47 points (8+39).
Travis Sanheim of Philadelphia Flyers is one of the best defensive defenders in the NHL.
Six experienced Bekov from the NHL is complemented by young Ryker Evans, who completed the first complete season in the Seattle Kraken jersey.
Attackers
All four offensive formations represent high quality. Captain Sidney Crosby had to leave a place in the first attack Nathan Mackinnon of Colorado, who is one of the biggest stars of contemporary hockey.
In the last season of the NHL he finished in 2nd place with 116 points (32+84).
In addition to big stars such as Crosby and Mackinnon and several experienced guys, Canada brought a tournament to the stars such as Macklin Celebrini from San José Sharks or Adam Fantili from Columbus Blue Jackets.
The team has practically no weakness and nothing but gold medals can be expected.
Of the sixteen mutual matches, the Slovaks were able to succeed only twice at the World Championships, in both cases in the quarterfinals. In 2002 we finally won gold medals and ten years later silver.
In four matches, Canadian goalies only scored 2 goals. The matches in the opponents group a few levels lower are only a mandatory ride and the tactic is obvious. Decide the match, as soon as possible and save forces for the evening output into the city.
Match forecast
Match against Crosby et al. It is a hockey holiday for every team at the championships.
Slovakia will not be an exception, especially for players from the Slovak Extraleague.
For young team players, this is an ideal opportunity to measure their strength with the best and show whether it is possible to count on the Olympics.
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