A dreamlike start. Young Slovak ice hockey players entered the World Cup for under-18 players as best they could. In the opening match of the home championship (played in Bratislava and Trenčín), the team of Martin Dendis defeated their peers from Canada 2:1.
Photo: Martin Medňanský
Slovak ice hockey players under 18 years of age.
In this age category, it is the first ever triumph of the Slovaks over the maple leaves.
In the past, most of the players of the domestic team were coached by the current captain of the under-17 team Peter Kúdelka (38), who already declared before the start of the WC that the Slovaks would be world champions.
Yesterday they added a 6:1 win against Denmark and so far they are one hundred percent in the tournament.
Could Slovak hockey players have wished for a better introduction to the tournament than defeating the top favorite?
It’s a great start to the tournament. The boys gave an excellent performance. There was great emotion from the whole team. The boys were excellently prepared from a tactical point of view. They played disciplined and deservedly defeated Canada.
It is a huge encouragement for the whole team. It proved that we can beat anyone. However, the boys must enter the next matches with maximum concentration.
It will be important not to get carried away by the euphoria of a great victory, but to go step by step.
Timothy Kazda scored the winning goal from a free kick. For many, it was a struggle of a lifetime. Which of the players caught your attention the most?
Denis Čelko gave a great performance in goal. Whenever needed, he gave excellent performances. He supported the team in an excellent way. I also liked the individual offensive performances.
They present themselves as one team and do not single out one player. Their greatest weapon is cohesion. The team’s collective spirit and tremendous commitment were the main success factors.
I liked how they went physical against the opposition, which is characteristic of this kind of game.
Did it turn out that coach Dendis is also a great motivator and tactician?
It is his third championship. He went through several tough matches. He has rich experience. He was able to prepare the team brilliantly. His handwriting was visible. Hats off to his work.
The guys enjoyed the huge ovation from the stands and the Slovak national anthem. The fans gave them extra energy, which they will need throughout the tournament.
What makes the current year of eighteen special?
The guys have the right character. They made an excellent team. First of all, they are great people and amazing athletes. In the first place for them is the team result and not individual statistics.
Photo: TASR, Roman Hanc
SR Hockey TEL preliminary round 5. Michalovce Trenčín Kúdelka Peter Kúdelka.
The team includes players who developed in Slovakia, but also several who chose abroad for their hockey growth. If we compare the two paths, what is the biggest difference?
This team is a demonstration that the Slovak way is also correct. I am not saying that it is not foreign. Each player has something different. I am very happy that this team has many players who followed the Slovak path.
Everything has its pros and cons. I would not claim that everywhere abroad they do it better than here. It depends from club to club.
Nicolas Struhár at the SZľH methodology and education department is doing a great job. The development of coaches is currently set at a very decent level. It is up to us how we proceed.
The youngest player in the team is only 15-year-old Max Melicherík, but he did not play against Canada. Can the tournament be a huge challenge especially for younger players?
It is a natural part of the player development process. If he can assert himself against older guys, I’m in favor of young people getting a chance in the older categories as well.
Through individual work, we try to prepare the boys for big hockey. In the case of the 2009 vintages, we are also trying to do the same.
These are players like Matúš Válek, Oliver Ozogány, Oliver Botka or Tomáš Selič, who were aged. In every selection, it is important to select players who will gain experience even among the seniors.
Which players currently have the best chances to succeed in the next or next year’s draft?
Kazda, Ozogány, Floriš or Chrenko are names that are relevant for the next drafts.
We know very well that the WC serves scouts as an environment where they can also find new players. The national team is the place where our young guys can show themselves in a good light and attract attention.
In the past, it happened that the pre-draft rankings assigned three to four places to Slovaks, but after winning silver at the 18-year-old World Cup, several suddenly shot up, and in the end eleven Slovaks were drafted in two years.
Here we see how team success and results that go out into the world can greatly help players in their careers.
Before the domestic championship, you announced that Slovakia will win the title of world champions. Did the guys confirm your words?
This group is among the best selections I have coached in 16 years. We had a fantastic relationship with the guys. They had a huge desire to achieve something big.
They transferred it to the new coaching staff and created one hockey family. The win over Canada is just a signal that the team has enormous quality.
My statement that we will be world champions was very bold, but I stand by it. Slovaks can go very far at the WC.
What do you see as the biggest difference between 2008 and 2009?
They are completely different. Each vintage has its own specifics and characteristic features. The year 2009 was unlucky in that it never met in the strongest composition.
They will have a chance already in the summer at the prestigious Hlinka Gretzky Cup tournament.
Adam Goljer is the captain of the Slovakian team. What makes him an ideal leader?
He has already experienced the under-18 and under-20 World Cups. He played with older players. He already has a lot of experience for his age. Unsurprisingly, he is the captain.
The other players respect him and naturally follow him. In Trenčín, he is growing into a great defender for the national team.
