(source: TASR)
The country has recorded three victories, which has earned it third place in its group in the preliminary round so far.
In its May 5 match against Slovenia, the Slovak team played hard to win, as Slovenia was winning 0:1 after the first period. Slovakia scored its three goals only during the final period.
“It was a hard march, but fortunately my operating hearth is still working,” coach Vladimír Vůjtek said, as quoted by the Sme daily.
He added that after Slovenia scored, the Slovak team was not playing well. As a result, he made some changes and exchanged forwarders Tomáš Surový (fourth formation) and Tomáš Kopecký (first formation). In the end, Kopecký even remained sitting on the bench.
“Tomáš is a team player and it is not necessary to explain something to him,” Vůjtek said, as quoted by Sme.
Also Kopecký admitted it was a good decision.
The Slovaks are playing in group B of the preliminary round with Belarus, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Russia, Slovenia, USA. Based on IIHF World Rankings 2014 they are actually in 8th position while Norway ranks 10th. After the Slovak team won its game against Denmark (on shootouts), Belarus (in overtime) and also Slovenia, it has 7 points in the preliminary round.
The biggest success for Slovak ice hockey was the Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2002. Slovakia won the gold medal game, defeating Russia 4–3. In 2014, The Slovak team lost in the quarter finals at the World Cup in Minsk, Belarus. Their last big success was in 2012, when they won the silver medal in Helsinki, Finland.
Programme of the preliminary round - Group B:
May 2 (Sat) 12:15 GMT + 2, Slovakia – Denmark (4:3, on shootouts)
May 3 (Sun) 16:15 GMT + 2, Belarus – Slovakia (1:2, in overtime)
May 5 (Tue) 20:15 GMT + 2, Slovakia – Slovenia (3:1)
May 6 (Wed) 20:15 GMT + 2, Norway – Slovakia (3:2)
May 9 (Sat) 16:15 GMT + 2, Finland - Slovakia
May 10 (Sun) 20:15 GMT + 2, Slovakia - Russia
May 12 (Tue) 16:15 GMT + 2, USA - Slovakia
Games summary:
May 6 (Wed): Slovakia – Norway; 2:3 (1:0, 1:2, 0:1), Scores: SUROVÝ Tomáš (0:1; 19 ), ĎALOGA Marek (2:0; 22), NORSTEBO Mattias (2:1; 26), OLSEN Rosseli (2:2; 36), NORSTEBO Mattias (2:3; 42)
ay 5 (Tue): Slovakia – Slovenia; 3:1 (0:1, 0:0, 3:0), Scores: URBAS Jan (0:1; 6:20), MESZÁROŠ Andrej (1:1, 47:57), GÁBORÍK Marián (2:1, 54:16), GÁBORÍK Marián (3:1, 59:58)
May 3 (Sun): Slovakia – Belarus; 2:1 in overtime (0:0, 0:0, 1:1 - 1:0), Scores: KOSTITSYN Sergei (0:1; 51:27), MESZÁROŠ Andrej (1:1, 52:31), MESZÁROŠ Andrej (2:1, 61:55)
May 2 (Sat): Slovakia – Denmark; 4:3 on shootouts (0:0, 0:1, 3:2), Scores: BJORKSTRAND Patrick (0:1; 25:05), SERSEN Michal (1:1; 48:08), VIEDENSKÝ Marek (2:1; 49:26),HARDT Nichlas (2:2; 49:57), GRAŇÁK Dominik (3:2; 51:11), NIELSEN Daniel (3:3; 57:46)
