Hockey World Championship 2025: Slovaks recall exceptional matches against Canada
Stockholm. It is not the rivalry we are used to. It is not a « fraternity » duel, from which one as the winner comes out and the other is completely defeated, as is often the case in the case of hockey matches between Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
However, the matches between Slovakia and Canada also have an extra charge.
Otherwise it will probably not be on MS in hockey 2025. The Slovaks will face an outsider against the « hockey cradle » on Saturday from 20:20.
Since 2012, Slovakia has not been overwhelmed by Canada at any top event, including the Junior World Cup. However, it was not far from success several times.
Several hockey players from the current line -up of coach Vladimír Országh still have matches against this opponent in fresh memory, which they will not forget so easily.
We chose five meetings in which the Slovaks reached against the favorite for points or even to advance to the quarterfinal or medal, and we asked them five Slovak hockey players who are currently playing at the Štokholm Championship.
Each of the addressed players was given the same question: How do you remember an exceptional match against Canada? Patrik Hrehorčák, Matúš Sukeľ, Samuel Hlavaj, Adam Sýkora and Dalibor Dvorský answer.
Euphoria in Poprad
It is not often that the tournament under the age of 18 watches as many viewers as it was in 2017. The World Championship took place in Slovakia – Poprad and Spišská Nová Ves.
The Slovaks had several hopeful selection, led by Martin Fehérvár, Martin Pospíšil, Adam Ružička and Patrik Hrehorčák.
At the beginning of the tournament the Slovaks succumbed to Finland, but in the second match they met with Canada. More than 4300 spectators found their way to the stadium in Poprad and domestic hockey players drove for victory.
The duel’s score was opened by Liška, but a strong opponent turned the game status with three goals. Thanks to Hrehorčák and the second goal, the Slovaks equalized Liška and dragged the match into the extension. But there were guests. Mattheos decided at the beginning of extra time.
Patrik Hrehorčák: Wow, we were 17 years old. I remember especially the backdrop and fans who came to Poprad. I was kidnapped as Popradčan. In that match we played a stop and it was also thanks to the people who chased us ahead. I don’t even know what players stood against us, but certainly many of them have become excellent hockey players. For me the whole tournament was very good, we had a good game. Too bad we didn’t get further.
A second was missing in Košice
One of the most featured matches against Canada played Slovakia at the home championship in 2019. The sold out Steel Arena watched a riveting theater. The Slovaks won 2: 0 after the goals of Sukel and Liška, but Canada equalized in the first period.
Thanks to Nagya and Liška Slovakia again led by two goals, but Canada reached again and even scored the leading goal to 4: 5. The Sukel equalized the second precise intervention.
When the Slovaks seemed to take at least one point to the topfavorite, Stone scored. The goal fell at 59:59, a second before the regular time.
Matúš Sukel: Just on Friday morning we talked about it at breakfast along with Lanti (Robert Lantoši). We remembered it. In the meeting we performed excellent performance. First we won, then they and finally decided a second before the end and lost all the points. The atmosphere in Košice was amazing, the fans were great, but the unfortunate second has spoiled us a nice impression. But the Canadians won fairly and fairly. The whistle of fans was unsuitable.
Hlavaj pulled the blind
Slovakia was last in the group championship in the World Championship against Canada in 2023. In Riga, Latvia, the coaches of Craig Ramsay lost 1: 2 after separate raids.
Samuel Hlavaj, for whom it was the first match at the World Hockey World Championship, participated in the score. In the match he caught 43 attempts of the opponent, his back passed only a shot from the stick Neighboursa.
In separate raids for Slovakia scored Panik and Chromiak, for Canada they made three shooters.
Samuel Hlavaj: I have only the best memories of the meeting, it was my first World Cup match. Catching against Canada is always a holiday. In that match, I showed everyone, but especially myself that I belong to the highest level.
In Halifax the Slovaks cried
It was one of the matches when small Slovakia showed a big Canada that it had to be counted. The Slovaks sent a quality team to the junior championship in 2023. Filip Mešár, Adam Sýkora was missing in the line -up and as the captain led the team Šimon Nemec.
In the group phase, the Slovaks took 3rd place. In the quarterfinals, they encountered the strongest possible opponent who had a generation talent Connor Bedard on the team.
Young Slovaks showed an admirable performance, the favorite resisted the whole match. They played 0: 2 and 1: 3, but led the meeting to the extension. In extra time they survived weakening, the Canadians shot twice the shaft.
When Petrovský found himself facing the goalkeeper Milica, the Canadians had already seen each other in the dressing room. However, the Slovak threw away a 100 % opportunity.
In the end, he took the puck Bedard and went to the goal through the slalom between the hockey players. The Slovaks cried after the match, Canada had a shovel.
Video: Match the match Slovakia – Canada at the World Championships under 20 years 2023
Adam Sýkora: I remember it very hard. Even though I say I have forgotten it, it still boils in me. They were missing centimeters, we could score and we could be in the semifinals. I talked to the other guys and we can atone for this duel. We all have a huge motivation. We will play against the world’s best hockey players and I am very much looking forward to it.
Dvorský et al. They reached for bronze
Similarly, hockey players under 18 in Switzerland experienced a bitter loss in the same year. The game around the striker Dalibor Dvorský passed the tournament very well.
In the group, the Slovaks took 3rd place, in the quarterfinal they encountered tough Finns. They won 3: 2 and headed for medals.
The semifinals were a clear affair of the US, the Slovaks conquered convincingly 7: 1. The fight for bronze against Canada attracted, the youngsters from under the Tatras wanted to win.
The meeting was balanced, the first goal fell only in the second period, when the later unit of draft Macklin Celebrini succeeded.
The Slovaks responded with the goal of Dvorský, but Canada returned Barlow management. In the third period, the team of coach Tibor Tartaľ equalized the score and the third goal of the Slovaks added less than five minutes before the end of Jenčko.
But he was able to answer the favorite. At 58:50, Wood scored and sent a match to the overtime.
Dalibor Dvorský before the match Slovensko – Austria in Group A at the World Championship in hockey 2025 (author: Sportnet – Oscar Larsson)
Again, to the misfortune for Slovakia, the Canadian scored. The winning of the “maple leaves” was decided by a player who will face the Slovaks on Saturday – Macklin Celebrini.
Dalibor Dvorský: It was a good match. I think we were better most of the match. Unfortunately, we got a goal at the end. Even now, when I remember it, it’s a great pity. But since then they have passed two years. I don’t remember the match that Celebrini decided. I am looking forward to Canada now.
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