At the opening meeting of the Slovak ice hockey team for the Christmas Kaufland Cup, 23 players reported to coach Vladimír Országh in Zvolen early Monday evening.
Goalkeeper Stanislav Škorvánek, defender Peter Čerešňák and forwards Tomáš Tatar, Marek Hrivík and Miloš Kelemen dropped out of the nomination for various reasons.
The implementation team responded by calling up goalkeepers Dávid Hrenák and Patrik Jurčák, defender Dávid Romaňák and forwards Sebastián Čederle and Filip Krivošík.
Marek Hecl will also be with the national team until Wednesday, December 10, and after the match with Norway, Patrik Hrehorčák will replace him in the nomination. The tournament will take place in Banská Bystrica and is also a warm-up before the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan.
At the home event, the Slovak national team will compete against Norway on Wednesday and Latvia on Friday.
Clubs from the KHL refused to release the players
“There were a few more injuries than usual, for example Miloš Roman was supposed to replace Tomáš Tatar, but he was on the phone in the morning and has problems with his shoulder. The substitutes are also struggling with injuries and illnesses, so we had a tough morning. We are glad that the Slovak clubs also came to meet us, even though the extra league is being played.
They were not pleasant calls, but the guys who came have a chance to prove themselves in the national team. We also requested players from KHL Ružička, Jaroš and Gernát, but we received negative opinions from the clubs.
VIDEO: Vladimír Országh at the meeting before the Kaufland Cup
These players have in their contracts that the clubs can release them for the Olympics, but in Russia you never know what can happen, so we are counting on different options,” said coach SR Országh at the opening meeting in Zvolen, who will also be assisted by Craig Ramsay at the home tournament under Urpín. He will be present at least one match directly on the substitutes’ bench.
They communicate with NHL players
Before the upcoming Olympics in February, Orzságh also communicates intensively with players overseas. “I’m going to watch the Under-20 World Championship, and after it’s over I’ll stay in America for about a week and I’ll also meet NHL players. I’ll communicate with them, sometimes I’ll write to them.
For example, I encouraged Pavel Regenda when he scored two goals and was sent to the farm again. I mainly communicate with injured players, whether it’s Erik Černák, who should be back on the ice in two to three weeks, or Martin Pospíšil, who could already start the matches in mid-December. There will be more communication with players overseas in the near future.”
Suddenly, Martin Pospíšil’s brother Kristián also visited Zvolen, who is attending the Kaufland Cup in Banská Bystrica with the aim of reaching the final nomination for the Olympic tournament. Regarding this goal, the Komety Brno striker said:
“I came motivated to show the coaches that I belong to the Olympic team. I am now in a period where I feel good and comfortable on the ice and I am trying to help Brno. I believe that I will perform well in the national team as well.
VIDEO: Kristián Pospíšil at the summit before the Kaufland Cup
I would like to play with my brother at the Olympics. I believe he will be healthy and now it’s just up to me to show up to make this dream come true for both of us.”
Cehlárik wants to fight for the Olympics
Striker Peter Cehlárik could also be among the mainstays of the national team. He suddenly came from Sweden, where he and his team Leksands IF currently occupy the last place.
“I’m healthy and ready to play the best hockey I can. We’re having a difficult time at the club, we’re down in the table, it’s also mentally harder for our group in the team. I’m all the more happy to change the environment, see the guys and it will bring me more positive energy.
VIDEO: Peter Cehlárik at the meeting before the Kaufland Cup
I’m looking forward to the national team matches, I’m fighting for the Olympics. I dream of it, I work to be there. It will be important to play consistently in both games and fulfill what the coach wants from us.”
Defender Martin Marinčin and striker Libor Hudáček arrived from Třinac for the initial national team meeting. Both are in a positive mood, as their club is fighting for the highest places in the Czech extra league and is in third position with only a two-point loss to the leader Sparta Prague.
“I’m glad that I’m healthy and back in the national team. I’m fighting for an Olympic place, I believe that the domestic tournament will be successful for us. I hope that I will fit into the final team as a coach, I’ll try to play as well as possible,” revealed fullback Marinčin, who was joined by his department and national team colleague Hudáček:
“I feel good, fighting. I will fight for a place at the Olympics. I would like to confront the best hockey players in the world. I will try to score goals. I know that I can surpass Petr Bondra in the number of goals in the national team, get into the top ten, but I don’t think about it.
VIDEO: Libor Hudáček at the meeting before the Kaufland Cup
It is an honor for me to fight for such numbers with the legends of Slovak hockey. However, health is important. I need to regenerate so that I can run onto the ice in the next game with gusto. I am doing well in Třinec, I believe that I will continue to do so.”
