MS in hockey 2025: Quarterfinals will be for Slovaks as a medal
Slovak hockey players in the first match at the World Cup 2025 succumbed to the Swedes high 0: 5. « We saw reality, « says former Czech hockey player and television expert Rostislav Olesz.
How would you evaluate the opening performance of Slovakia at the World Championship in hockey 2025?
We saw reality. Some may say that the Slovak has escaped the train, but this can be a great opportunity for generational change.
Unfortunately, the Slovaks now have no NHL players and the team could compose mostly from the players of Europe, plus the youngsters from the AHL.
Sýkora and Dvorský can be the future of Slovak hockey and this championship is a test for them.
Slovakia lacks overseas and European leaders and the quality of the Swedes had to show up in the match, but the first ten minutes aroused in fans hope for a good result. Do you agree?
This is a sporting lie. As athletics about time, hockey is about goals. The first 10 minutes was « vau » start from both sides. The Slovaks had a goal opportunity and this is how it goes to the World Cup. Either you score a goal and you will play or you will not let go.
The quality of the Swedes has been shown. But let’s not say that the Swedes have NHL players and the Slovaks do not. The championship is played on a big ice rink and overseas players are not used to such ice.
Slovaks wanted to play hockey with them and it was physically demanding. So when we mention the NHL, we have to say that the players from there are very well physically prepared, strong and can make a decision. This is the difference from European leagues.
The goal of Slovakia is to get in the group to the best four. That would mean a medal for you. And then it is only one match, as the goalkeeper captures, power plays and so on.
What can the Slovaks dare at the championship with this selection?
You can also dare for gold. The tournament is very long and it is often not about individualities, but about how the team grows down. At the same time, however, you must also have a certain quality.
We can take it as in the case of the Finns who are changing the cadre variation. I perceive it that there is no great force on the team, but fans have to keep your fingers crossed for the boys who are there.
We cannot discuss the reasons why individuals did not go. The players who got to the World Championship asked for the nomination and they must confirm the quality. The team cannot now argue that Slafkovský et al. There are other players who have to take it on each other.
Now they have to try to change the chances that came at the beginning of the match with Sweden. After puncture or obtaining the puck, Slovakia had a slow transition to the attack zone. This is decisive today.
But they have to learn from it. The tournament is still long and it will be decided later.
VIDEO: The cut of the Swedish match – Slovakia at the World Hockey World Championship 2025
Are you interested in one of the players of Slovakia in the first match?
I do not know how the match is evaluated in Slovakia, but me, as a former hockey player, is interested in the future. It means Dvorský, Honzek or Sýkora. They are all curious about how to cope with big ice and in senior hockey.
Those who played a match in the NHL have experienced the best league in the world, have their quality. They started against McDavid, Crosby and the hockey players who played for Sweden. I am not saying that the whole team will be pulling now, but they have a certain quality.
A few years later, we will remember that this tournament was their first and now they play completely differently.
If we return to the absences in the Slovak team. You have experienced it as a hockey player several times. How difficult is it for a player who got to the finals, played seven -match series, may have less injury, take motivation for the next tournament? This may often be unable to understand this.
It is difficult, also because of personal life and health. Fans have to tolerate that everyone has their own family and in the end their age. There is a difference when you have personal reasons in 20 years and when you are in your thirties.
For example, when we take Petr Čerešňák. Pardubice played seven matches in the finals, the season was extremely long. In addition, it may have any injury. He cares to prepare for the new season that will be for the club again important.
The business controls sports. For example, in Formula 1, when someone says that this rider gets priority, no one can object. This will be done because it will bring the result.
This is how it works in hockey. When the manager says we’re going to play there or there, the hockey player just has to respect it. When the club does not recommend his participation in the World Championship, everyone must understand it.
But, I will return to the beginning of the interview, this is a great opportunity for young boys who will be of great benefit to represent. The Olympic Games are approaching and they need experience.
The fact that Slovakia did not travel to Sweden with the strongest selection is a pity for Slovak fans, but overall it can only be beneficial for the team.
You were at the age of 21 at the Turin Olympics, and a year later you played at the World Championship in hockey? What did they give you such experience at a young age?
Although I did not play much at the tournament, I started regularly. I saw other players, participating in my next career. I wasn’t in top formations, but I was there and I knew it would give me experience, looking at new things.
But now it is different, it cannot be compared to that period. Inputs behind the scenes, social networks, etc. But you simply don’t fool the experience.
You also mentioned coach Országh, who came to the team as a replacement for Craig Ramsay, even though he preferred work at the club level. In your opinion, is it a good choice for Slovakia?
When a coach gets sick, you can’t throw away the whole implementation team. Certainly the concept of coach Ramsay continues, but there is also the manuscript of Országh.
But it is not good if the representation has a problem to replace a Canadian expert. Experienced Slovak coaches are not on the market. Especially those who could lead the representation and would also gain respect for the Slovak nation.
Országh’s offer is appreciated. There is a lot of pressure on it, as twenty hockey players have not come. He came to succeed at the championship and now it will be shown how not only he but also the whole implementation team will deal with it. Everyone must pull at one end of the rope.
In Slovakia, in recent weeks, the fact that KHL players are also in the line -up. Can this situation affect the team’s atmosphere?
This is not a question of me, but I will say that – half of the people will agree with their participation and half not again. It’s hard to evaluate.
This was to be solved by the Hockey Association. To say, yes, we agree, players will go and done. Now players cannot deal with it, we can say that they are not responsible.
Of course, we do not know what is behind the decisions of hockey players who went to play to Russia. But it is important how the union has decided.
SZĽH does not mind that hockey players from KHL are there and everyone simply has to respect it. This is the highest power that can say yes, they will play or not, they will not play.
This should no longer be addressed during the World Cup. Now it’s about performances, how the coach has prepared the players for the match and how they will play matches. Then we can evaluate that the tournament turned out well or not.
Rostislav Olesz
Video: Hockey Boss – Special to MS 2025
