The final step on the way to the title of world champions did not work out for them. Slovak ice hockey players lost 2:4 to Sweden in the finals of the WC under-18 players, and they take the silver medals from the tournament.
02.05.2026 21:04 , updated: 21:46
Photo: TASR, Martin Medňanský
The picture shows the sadness of Slovakian players after losing in the final match between Slovakia and Sweden.
Slovaks won a medal in this age category for the first time since 2003, when they also won silver.
Sweden was more active with shots in the first act and took advantage of it with the leading goal. The Slovaks matched the “three crowns” of the game in the middle part of the game.
Lucian Bernáth had Tutovka on his stick in the second twenty minutes, but he could not equalize and the Swedish team immediately bounced back in the 38th minute with a difference of two goals.
Read more We watched the finals of the Under-18 Hockey World Cup between Slovakia and Sweden ONLINE
Even from the initial onslaught in the third act, the Slovak youngsters did not score, and it seemed that the opponent dealt them the last blow with the third and then the fourth accurate strike.
However, the Slovaks did not lay down their weapons and unleashed pressure on the Swedish goal while playing without a goalkeeper. Within less than a minute, Ivan Matta and Maxim Šimek scored, and the sold-out Trenčín stadium pushed the Slovaks to equalize.
Subsequently, coach Martin Dendis’ team had a power play at their disposal, but in it and even in the final seconds, they could not reverse the fate of the final match.
The Swedes won the third gold in this age category and the sixteenth precious metal overall, making them the second most decorated team after the USA (21 medals).
The Slovaks have their third medal from the WC under 18 years. They won the first at the 1999 WC, where they won bronze, in 2003 they won silver. During the past three years, they have not once succeeded in the battle for bronze, finishing fourth each time.
World Cup under 18 years – final:
SLOVAKIA – Sweden 2:4 (0:1, 0:1, 2:2)
Goals: 56. Matta (Kazda, Floriš), 57. Šimko (Selič, Kazda) – 6. Sörensson (Palme, Cilthe), 38. Hermansson (Elofsson, Meijer), 51. Andersson (Cilthe, Zirath), 55. Palme (Meijer, Sörensson).
Judges: Heidemann (USA), Ingalls (Can.) – Knox (Can.), Urfer (Switzerland), exclusions: 2:1 for 2 min., in addition: Nordmark (Sweden) personal penalty until the end of the meeting for throwing equipment, strengths and weaknesses: 0:0, 6059 spectators.
Slovakia: Hrenák – Požgay, Goljer, Botka, Floriš, Kovalčík, Stančík, Bereš – Matta, Šimko, Kazda – Karšay, Válek, Bernát – Potočka, Hybský, Brath – Šramaty, Jakubec, Selič – Tariška
Sweden: Törnblom – Gustafsson, Gudmundsson, Liden, Bratt, Palme, Cilthe, Elofsson, Eriksson – Nordmark, Command, Hermansson – Meijer, Sörensson, Bartholdsson – Isaksson, Kim, Nömme – Karlsson, A. Andersson, Zirath
Individual awards at the Under-18 WC in Trenčín and Bratislava:
Most Valuable Player: Timothy KAZDA (SR)
Best goalkeeper: Patriks Plumins (Lat.)
Best defender: Adam GOLJER (SR)
Best striker: Elton Hermansson (Sweden)
All Star Team of the Tournament: Plumins (Lat.) – GOLJER, Gustafsson (Swed.) – KAZDA, Hermansson (Swed.), Cullen (USA)
Martin Dendis, coach of SR “18”:
“I want to thank every single guy from the team. Everyone gave their best for Slovakia and together they created an excellent team. It’s a historic moment. For the first time in the history of the U-18 World Cup, we beat Canada and then won the group for the first time. We are also happy with the silver, it’s a huge success. Today it was about one goal at crucial moments. At 0:4, we pulled the goalkeeper and scored two goals. We also had chances to score on 3:4. The players showed their character. I also thank the colleagues from the implementation team. The whole stadium stood behind us. The players showed that Slovakia is a phenomenon.”
Adam Goljer, defender and captain of SR “18”:
“We are also happy with the second place, but we tried to win the gold. We didn’t score goals in the beginning and it was hard to catch up at 0:4. We are one big group and family. I believe that our year 2008 will go far.”
