Slovak ice-hockey players arriving at the Bratislava airport to fly to Sweden. From left: Matúš Sukeľ, Dávid Mudrák and Andrej Golian. (source: TASR)
Slovakia will begin their 2025 Ice Hockey World Championship campaign on Friday, May 9, with a daunting opener against hosts Sweden in Stockholm.
The tournament is co-hosted by Sweden and Denmark, with Slovakia drawn into Group A alongside Sweden, Canada, Finland, Latvia, Austria, France and Slovenia. All Group A fixtures will be played in the Swedish capital.
On paper, Sweden are overwhelming favourites. Ranked third in the world, they claimed bronze last year and dismantled Slovakia 6–1 in the group stage. This time, they arrive with 19 NHL players in their squad — Slovakia, by contrast, have just two.
Several other national teams will also be bolstered by NHL talent, including Canada, which will feature Sidney Crosby and Marc-André Fleury.
Slovakia games (local time)
Friday, May 9: Sweden - Slovakia / 20:20
Sunday, May 11: Slovakia - Slovenia / 12:20
Monday, May 12: Austria - Slovakia / 16:20
Wednesday, May 14: Slovakia - France / 16:20
Saturday, May 17: Canada - Slovakia / 20:20
Sunday, May 18: Slovakia - Latvia / 20:20
Tuesday, May 20: Slovakia - Finland / 16:20
As in 2024, fans in Slovakia will be able to watch all matches on the private TV JOJ (Slovak games), JOJ Šport (Group A and B matches), and JOJ Plus (Group B). Games will also be streamed free of charge here.
Behind the bench, Vladimír Országh takes over as head coach in place of Craig Ramsay, who is absent due to health issues. Országh, a former assistant, steps up having worked at three previous World Championships.
Slovakia’s target is to reach the quarter-finals — something they managed last year before falling to eventual silver medallists Canada, finishing seventh overall.
Slovakia’s roster for the 2025 Ice Hockey World Championship
Goaltenders:
Samuel Hlavaj (Iowa Wild, AHL)
Adam Húska (HC Lugano, Switzerland)
Patrik Rybár (Kunlun Red Star, KHL)
Defencemen:
Mislav Rosandič (HC Košice)
Andrej Golian (HC Slovan Bratislava)
Michal Ivan (Bílí Tygři Liberec, Czech Republic)
Patrik Koch (HC Oceláři Třinec, Czech Republic)
Mário Grman (Admiral Vladivostok, KHL)
Dávid Mudrák (Mountfield Hradec Králové, Czech Republic)
Michal Beňo (HKM Zvolen)
Forwards:
Sebastián Čederle (HK Nitra)
Patrik Hrehorčák (HC Oceláři Třinec, Czech Republic)
Matej Kašlík (Banes Motor České Budějovice, Czech Republic)
Michal Krištof (SCL Tigers, Switzerland)
Róbert Lantoši (Bílí Tygři Liberec, Czech Republic)
Miloš Roman (HC Oceláři Třinec, Czech Republic)
Matúš Sukeľ (VERVA Litvínov, Czech Republic)
Samuel Takáč (HC Slovan Bratislava)
Samuel Honzek (Calgary Flames, NHL)
Martin Chromiak (Ontario Reign, AHL)
Dalibor Dvorský (St. Louis Blues, NHL)
Adam Sýkora (Hartford Wolf Pack, AHL)
