Nela Lopušanová’s name caught most of the hockey world’s attention for the first time in January 2023.
At the U18 Women’s World Championship, then as a 14-year-old, she scored 13 points in five games, won the tournament’s scoring and became its most valuable player.
Her name, lacrosse goal and highlight clips circulated the Internet.
Now it’s time for another junior championship. The fourth for Nela.
VIDEO: Nela Lopušanová’s memorable lacrosse goal at the U18 World Cup in 2023
In 2024, she was not so dominant, she scored only three points. Last year, she came as an experienced player and was effective on the ice as well.
The Slovaks lost all matches, except for the fight for survival against Japan. However, Nela dominated again. In five meetings, she scored eleven times and won the MVP award again.
She was the first ever to win the award for the most valuable player of the tournament twice.
In 2026, the World Championships will take place in the Canadian cities of Membertou and Sydney in the province of Nova Scotia.
The Slovaks face tough competition in Group B. They will play last year’s finalists from the USA, bronze medalists from the Czech Republic and the Finns.
Nela Lopušanová has a big challenge ahead of her. Drag your team to good performances and keep it in the elite category.
The Americans and the Czechs are big favorites against the Slovaks. The one with Finland seems to be the most playable fight.
The core group is very demanding. However, at least one extra match is guaranteed. All teams will also play in the quarterfinals. The two worst of those not advancing to the semi-finals are fighting for survival.
That happened to Slovaks last year. They stayed among the elite thanks to a 5:1 win over Japan.
VIDEO: Nela Lopušanová’s goal in the match against the Czech Republic at last year’s U18 World Cup
Nela Lopušanová has a chance to become the three-time most valuable player and the record holder for the number of points scored at this tournament.
She is currently fifth in the overall standings and is seven points short of tying Kendall Coyne Schofield’s current record.
Lopušanová collected 26 points in 15 matches, Schofield 33.
Seven points is not an unrealistic idea at all. She managed to do it twice out of three participations in the championship. Now he will play it for the fourth and last time.
He can also think about the record in the number of goals. In this statistic too, Schofield is in charge and Lopušan is fifth. The Slovakian has 16 hits to her credit, she needs six more to tie the record.
He ranks 23rd in the number of assists. She has ten of them, she would need another ten for the record.
“I think I’m ready. I’m glad that the coaches gave me the opportunity and that they trust me,” she told JOJ Šport. “I want to help the team as much as possible.”
An important career shift awaits her next season. From the Bishop Kearney Selects under-19 team, he will head to the University of Wisconsin, where he will study and play hockey at the same time.
Director of Hockey Operations at her current club Cari Coen said about Lopušanova that she has the potential to be the best player in the world.
The university’s game is intended to help it achieve this goal. After that, she could head to the “women’s NHL” – PWHL.
17-year-old Lopušanová will be the clear leader of the Slovak team.
In the selection of coach Michal Kobezda, there are three goalkeepers, eight defenders and twelve attackers.
Many of them already have experience with the tournament. However, the team is very young. Its average age is 16 years, and it also includes two 14-year-old hockey players – defender Tamara Rošková and forward Lucia Lipčáková.
There are six players in the nomination who are active overseas. The remaining girls play mainly in the Slovak women’s top competition.
Goalkeeper Mariana Sumegová will be an important person even after a year. At the club level, she works in Canada and last year she was a clear unit at the U18 World Cup.
Although her numbers were not the best, she saved the team more than once with her interventions.
Slovak goalkeeper Mariana Sumegová during the under-18 championship in Finland. (Author: IIHF)
Lopušanova will miss Ema Tóthová in the offensive line. She played in the tournament four times and her collaboration with Nela worked. However, she turned 18 last year and cannot participate in the championship. The same applies to Gabriela Lačná, who scored four goals last year.
Other names may surprise you. Alexandra Hirjaková collects almost two points per game in the women’s extra league, while only 15-year-old Lucia Luptáková is productive in Canada.
Nikita Lilliana Krištofíková, who works in Sweden in the Södertälje SK club, also brings interesting experiences.
Slovak women’s hockey players have played in the elite category of the World Cup under 18 five times in a row. Unlike the senior women’s selection, they manage to stay in the top eight.
However, it will not be easy this year either. They will be an outsider in the group, and even the friendly match with Hungary showed that the opponents will be ready.
Before the championship, the Slovak women lost both preparatory duels. First with Austria 4:6 and then with Hungary 5:6 after extra time. Nela Lopušanová scored a hat trick.
Coach Kobezda’s players will start the tournament on January 10 at 15:00 CET against the USA.
On January 11, they will play against Finland from 6:30 p.m., and they will finish their performance in the basic group with a duel with the Czech Republic on January 13 at 3:00 p.m.
