Slovak National Team Makes Major Changes After Warm-Up Match with Poland: 2024 World Cup Preparation Update

news-content">After Friday’s warm-up match with Poland (6:1), the Slovak national team saw the most changes in the preparation phase for WC (May 10-26). Defenders Martin Bučko, Patrik Bačik and forwards Alex Tamáši, Oliver Okuliar, Andrej Kollár are no longer in the team.

The last of the Czech Extraliga have been added to the roster: forwards Libor Hudáček, Viliam Čacho, Marko Daňo and defender Peter Čerešňák, and they have already announced reinforcements from abroad: the defense Martin Fehérváry and Patrik Koch and forward Juraj Slafkovský. Striker Miloš Kelemen joins the tour ahead of Wednesday’s departure to the competition venue in Ostrava.

“We are very sorry, the decision was very difficult. These are good hockey players. Unfortunately, we cannot increase the record. Although it did not work for them this year , we strongly believe that we will see them in the national team again in the future and also at the World Championships.” said assistant coach Peter Frühauf for hockeyslovakia.sk portal.

The management of the national team communicated with several candidates a week. The finalists of the Czech extra league got a few days rest after a challenging series. Finally, the trio selected Hudáček, Čacho and Daňo from the team of new champions from Třinec. The defender Čerešňák from Pardubice, who became a father shortly after the end of the last series, was given time to make a decision. At the end of the week, he got a good response from the experienced full-back with 108 starts for Slovakia.

“We will welcome three players from Třinec and defender Petr Čerešňák from Pardubice, who we have been dealing with for some time. It is a sign that the players want to represent him, if the season of the club and the health situation allows it, some will be injured, but they are willing to come and play for Slovakia. dodal early in the morning.

The leadership of the national team, led by general manager Miroslav Šatan, announced that Fehérváry, Kelemen and Koch arrived earlier on their communication channels. Slafkovský was counted first already in the previous week. However, on the recommendation of the Montreal Canadiens club doctor, the 2022 draft pick remained overseas to treat a minor injury.

He will join the national team at Monday’s meeting in Bratislava. “We are sure he will play against the United States. We will not decide on the line-up until the day of the match, but his name is in our plans for the game on Tuesday. We will try field the strongest team.” Frühauf added.

Slovakia’s duel with the USA is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, from 6:00 pm in Bratislava. After that, the coaching staff will draw up and announce the final nomination for the WC in Prague and Ostrava. The information was provided by the portal hockeyslovakia.sk.

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