Slovakia roster for Ivan Hlinka Memorial announced

Slovakia really struggled at last years Ivan Hlinka
Memorial, finishing the tournament in 8th place.
Photo: Erik Ďuriš

Friday morning saw the roster for Slovakia's team at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament confirmed, with no real surprises. The tournament, which is seen as the start of the scouting season for the 2013 NHL Draft will feature the best 1995 and 1996 born players in the world, who will look to stake their claim for a high draft spot next June.

The tournament, which takes place between the 13th and the 18th of August in Piešťany and Břeclav never fails to disappointment, and often reveals some diamonds in the rough, especially from the lesser hockey nations.

Anton Bartánus will coach the team, while the roster is as follows:

Goaltenders:
Denis Godla (Birth year: 1995/Club: HK Spišská Nová Ves, Slovakia),
Juraj Halo (1995/HC Topoľčany, Slovakia), 
Marek Mikoláš (1995/MsHK Žilina, Slovakia),

Defencemen
Patrik Bačik (1995/HC Slovan Bratislava, Slovakia), 
Martin Boboš (1995/HC Košice, Slovakia), 
Dávid Gál (1995/HC Nitra, Slovakia), 
Matúš Holenda (1995/Dukla Trenčín, Slovakia), 
Adam Kasanický (1995/Luleå HF, Sweden), 
Peter Kuzma (1995/Dukla Trenčín, Slovakia), 
Martin Pavlíček (1995/HC Nitra, Slovakia), 
Adrián Sloboda (1996/HK 36 Skalica, Slovakia), 
Michal Solár (1995/MsHK Žilina, Slovakia),
On reserve list: 
Mário Ramaj (1995/HC ´05 Banská Bystrica, Slovakia), 
Stanislav Tomko (1995/P.H.K. Prešov, Slovakia)

Forwards: 
Martin Blaho (1995/Slovan Bratislava, Slovakia), 
Peter Cehlárik (1995/Luleå HF, Sweden), 
Kristián Horvát (1995/ P.H.K. Prešov, Slovakia), 
Patrik Koyš (1995/Dukla Trenčín, Slovakia), 
Róbert Lantoši (1995/MsHK Žilina, Slovakia), 
Andrej Lištiak (1995/MHk Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovakia), 
Matej Paulovič (1995/BK Färjestad, Sweden), 
Martin Pleša (1995/HK 36 Skalica, Slovakia), 
Dominik Rehák (1995/MsHK Žilina, Slovakia), 
Martin Reway (1995/Gatineau Olympiques, QMJHL, Canada),
Timotej Šille (1995/HK 36 Skalica, Slovakia),
Juraj Šiška (1996/HC Nitra, Slovakia),
Dávid Šoltés (1995/HC Košice, Slovakia), 
Juraj Talán (1995/PSG Zlín, Czech Republic),
Tomáš Török (1995/Sherbrooke Phoenix, QMJHL, Canada),
Róbert Varga (1995/HK Trnava, Slovakia),

On reserve list:
Šimon Beták (1995/HC Olomouc, Czech Republic),
Samuel Petráš (1995/HC Slovan Bratislava),


From this roster, it is clear that the biggest strength is the crop of young forwards. Both Réway and Török are heading to the QMJHL next season, and it is no surprise as they represent two of the top young players coming out of Slovakia. Török had a poor season, punctuated by injuries on his return to Slovakia after a very promising season with Slavia Praha in the Czech Republic in 2010-11, whilst Réway went in the opposite direction, shining in the very competitive Czech junior leagues for Sparta Praha. Also present at the Ivan Hlinka will be Patrik Koyš. After his first few seasons in the Slovakian junior program, Koyš was touted to become the next best thing out of Slovakia, but he has yet to meet the hype. He was overshadowed at the IIHF Division 1 Under 18 World Championships, being shunted on the lower lines as the team favoured the likes of Réway and also Marko Daňo. However, he is still two years away from being drafted, and will be looking to have a dominant in the U20 Extraliga. Another with a point to prove will be big bodied forward Matej Paulovič. Paulovič, who moved to Sweden last season did well, earning a call up to the SuperElit, but struggled in international play for Slovakia. 

It should be an interesting tournament to gauge just to what level the next crop of Slovakian youngsters are at. However once again, it appears that there are 1-2 very good players, but as always, the depth simply isn't there.

Five goal third period enough for Slovakia

It's now three games and three games for Slovakia 18 as they went one step closer to promotion back to the Top Division of IIHF Under 18 competition following an 8-2 victory against Slovenia in Piešťany. With this victory, Slovakia keep their three point gap over Norway, who they will face in the final game of the tournament on Tuesday. For Slovakia, Marko Daňo and Dominik Rehak scored twice, giving him six goals in the tournament so far, whilst Eduard Šimun added three assists. Matej Paulovič opened his account for the tournament, as the Färjestad junior added a goal and an assist. Arguably the most impressive statistic was that Slovakia outshot their opponents 43-9, highlight a dominance that was not put onto paper until the third period.

Unlike the last two games, Slovakia got off to a good start in this contest, and went ahead in the second minute of the game. Smart play by Šimun off the offensive zone faceoff set up Stanislav Horanský, who was left unmarked in front of the goal, and the Žilina junior had the simple task of tapping home the puck to open Slovakia's account. The teams then traded penalties, and with Martin Reway in the box for elbowing, Slovenia had a powerplay chance in the ninth minute, which they would eventually capitalise on. A horrible neutral zone pinch by Patrik Luža left the door open for Slovenia, and pass from the left circle by Jaka Podrekar went tape-to-tape to Aljaz Uduc, who slotted it past Patrik Romančík as Slovenia scored on their only shot on goal of the period. Slovakia had 12, and the period ended 1:1.

The start of the second period was a scrappy affair, and Richard Buri went to the box for a nasty boarding penalty, before Slovenia's Jure Stan was given 2+10 for a check to the head on Daniel Rzavský, who looked worst for wear after the hit, but would return. Slovakia failed to convert on the powerplay, but would eventually get on the board as the period ticked down. Slovenia couldn't clear the puck, and Slovakia worked the puck to the corner. David Griger found Marko Daňo in the slot, and the hatrick hero from the opening game of the tournament made no mistake, one-timing the puck into the top corner of Tomaz Trelc's goal. Thirty seconds later the score was 3:1, this time the goal coming from the stick of Milan Kolena, who managed to tip the puck out of mid air after a rebound from a Rzavský effort from the side of the goal. That wouldn't be it for the second period though, as soon after Slovakia were shorthanded once again, as Denis Šimek took a holding penalty. Slovenia managed to score their second powerplay goal of the net on just their fourth shot of the game, as Jaka Podrekar fired home a rebound off a point shot with just fifteen seconds remaining in the period, sending the teams into the break with the score at 3:2.

Slovakia have tended to get better as the games have gone on throughout the tournament so far, and the same can be said for this game, as they truly put Slovenia to the sword in the third period. Slovakia scored in the 45th and 47th minutes through Rzavsky and Paulovič respectively, the latter scoring after yet more strong work by Šimun off offensive zone faceoffs. The score was 5:2 with ten minutes remaining, yet Slovakia were still not done, as Daňo scored his second at 51:46, scoring at a tight angle on the powerplay, and then at 52:25, Dominik Rehak scored, being the first to the puck and tipping it over a sprawling Trelc. Rehak would also close out the scoring with 71 seconds to go, scoring after brilliant work by Patrik Koyš down the right wing. 

That would be the final result, as Slovenia simply couldn't withstand the Slovakian pressure in the third period, and now Slovakia go on to face arguably their toughest two games against France on Sunday, and then Norway on Tuesday.

Bokroš finalises Slovakia Under-18 squad

Richard Sabol will be the go to guy for Slovakia
Photo: Majo Srnik

Tomorrow sees the start of the Division 1A World Under-18 Championships in Piešťany, and sees the start of Slovakia's attempt to reclaim their place in the top division following their relegation last year. After two warm up games with Belarus, where the teams shared victories, Slovakia have cut down their squad from 28 to a final 23, with the coaching staff hoping that this will be the team to do the job.

The final roster is as follows:

Netminders: Richard Sabol (HC '05 Banská Bystrica), Patrik Romančík (HK 36 Skalica), Denis Godla (HK Spišská Nová Ves)

Defenseman: Jakub Predajnianský (HC '05 Banská Bystrica), Patrik Luža, Michal Valjent (both HC Slovan Bratislava), Tomáš Rusina (MHC Mountfield Martin / MHK D. Kubín), Richard Buri (HC Nitra), Ľubomír Dinda (HK ŠKP Poprad), Peter Šohajda (HK 36 Skalica), Denis Šimek (HK Trnava)

Forwards: Mário Lunter, Eduard Šimun (both HC '05 Banská Bystrica), Stanislav Horanský, Dominik Rehák (both MsHK Žilina), Marko Daňo, Patrik Koyš, (both HK Dukla Trenčín), Milan Kolena (HC Mountfield Martin), Daniel Rzavský (HC Nitra), Dávid Gríger (HK ŠKP Poprad), Dávid Šoltés (HC Košice), Martin Reway (HC Sparta Praha/Czech Republic), Matej Paulovič (Färjestad BK/Sweden).

The players who didn't make the cut are defencemen Martin Chrkavý (Topoľčany) and Martin Kečkeš (Falu/Sweden), whilst forwards Tomáš Paleček (MsHK Žilina), Ján Blaško (HK Dukla Trenčín) and Denis Šimurka (EHC Linz/Austria) will miss out on a place in the final squad.

Bokroš, the head coach of both the Under-18 and Under-20 programs, was pragmatic in his interview with SZLH yesterday (link). "We've had a year-long preparation, in which we played five tournaments and tried 51 players. We have done the maximum to ensure the team is the best available. I believe that we are mentally and physically prepared to handle the challenge. A difficult task awaits us over the next seven days. We must win five games. We know about it and we have to handle it."

Marko Daňo impressed with the Under-20's.
Photo: Peter Kapusta (KITA)

The squads strengths lie in its forwards and netminding, however, the defence looks a bit thin on the ground. The only players ranked by the ISS for the upcoming 2012 NHL Entry draft are defencemen Patrik Luža and Richard Buri  who are ranked 80th and 94th respectively among European skaters, whilst Žilina forward Stanislav Horanský is ranked 120th in the same category. In goal for the Slovaks will more than likely be Richard Sabol, who was the third goaltender for the Under-20 team in the World Junior Championships in the winter, and has had a very promising year for Banská Bystrica in the Under-20 domestic league. The only other player who represented Slovakia U-20 in Alberta was forward  Marko Daňo, who was one of the finds of the tournament, as the 17 year old, originally used in a fourth line role, found himself on the first line for the final game against the Czech Republic, and scored in the game against Finland. Daňo, draft eligible in 2013, has spent a lot of his season with the Dukla Extraliga team, scoring 10 points in 32 Slovak Extraliga games, whilst also tallying three points in the playoffs, where his side were eliminated by Slovan Bratislava.

There are a number of exciting forward prospects for Slovakia who are draft eligible in 2013, with the biggest name being Martin Reway. A member of the "'95 group", Reway has made the switch to the Czech Republic and is currently a member of the Sparta Praha youth program, where he has excelled at the Under-18 level. Reway scored two goals in Slovakia's 5-3 win over Belarus on Sunday, and he looks set to be a star of the tournament. However, two other members of the same year group have struggled in their pre-tournament form.  Matej Paulovič and 16 year old Patrik Koyš were both on the bubble when it came to the final cuts, but they managed to make the squad. Both played on the fourth line for Slovakia in the pre-tournament games, and have not shown their best form as of yet. Paulovič, who scored 28 points in 17 J18 Elit games for Färjestad this year has a mix of size and pace which could make him a very exciting prospect for NHL scouts next year, whilst Koyš, who was a point per game in the Slovakia U-20 league as a 16 year old, has looked out of sorts with the national team so far. 

The tournament begins on the 11th of April, and anything but promotion will be a huge failure for the program, and could see a number of top prospects lose potential draft status by not playing against the worlds best juniors only a couple of months before the draft.