7:0, 4:1, 7:2, 10:4 and 3:1.
These are the results of the last five matches between Slovakia and Denmark in the U18 category.
Young Slovaks do not have a big problem with this opponent. They have won twelve games in a row and the last loss came in a friendly in 2015.
On Wednesday, April 29, these teams will meet in the most important match in history so far. They will compete in the quarterfinals WC U18 in Trenčín.
The winner will look to fight for medals.
Slovakia met Denmark at the end of the preparation for the championship, and the teams there played in basically the same composition as at the World Cup. The local hockey players won clearly 7:0. Now they will want to do it again.
“We certainly must not underestimate them. Even though they were fourth in the group, even though we won with them in the warm-up, we have to prepare for it. The play-off is about one game, anyone can win. Whoever loses, goes home,” Slovak forward Lucian Bernát announced before the confrontation.
The Danes play among the elite after 10 years
The Danes are playing in the elite category of the U18 WC for the first time in ten years. After relegation in 2016, they were only able to win in the lower division last year and fight their way back.
They did it thanks to five wins in five games.
In Slovakia, they have already achieved their goal. They saved themselves and will play among the elite twice in a row for the first time since 2004 and 2005.
They succeeded thanks to a win in the first and key match of Group B against Germany, which they managed 4:1. Then they lost to the USA 0:2, to the Czech Republic 1:9 and to Sweden 1:10, but the Germans could no longer overtake them in the table.
“It was a great match. We put everything together, we worked hard and we showed that we want to play among the elite,” goalkeeper Anton Wilde said after the win over Germany. “We showed an excellent team performance.”
The win against Germany was Denmark’s first win in the elite category of the U18 World Cup since 2004.
Busiest goalkeeper
The Danes finished the basic group with three points and a score of 6:22.
Only three hockey players of the team scored more than one point. Lucas Christensen and Andreas Mogensen have two goals each, Thoke Heinsen two assists.
Goalkeeper Anton Wilde, who is the team’s best player at the tournament, was particularly impressive. At the club level, he works in the Danish top flight and brought his experience to the lower age level as well.
Mikael Kim (Sweden) and goalkeeper Anton Wilde (Denmark). (Author: TASR)
At the U18 World Cup, he already faced 116 shots in three matches, which is clearly the most of all goalkeepers. He collected 11 of them.
The fact that the Danes lost to the United States only 0:2 is mainly his merit. He made 51 saves in the loss.
Wilde also shined in the win over Germany, where he stopped 31 of 32 shots and was instrumental in the Danes’ save.
“He’s an incredible player and a great guy. I don’t have enough words to describe him,” team captain Martinus Schioldan said about the goalkeeper. “He’s got us when we need him. He’s great.”
Weak offensive
After excellent performances in the group, the Slovaks will try to advance to the semi-finals for the fourth time in a row.
They stand out above the Danes in many statistics.
The Northerners have the worst power play in the entire tournament. They used only one of 14 opportunities. Slovaks, on the other hand, are the most effective in terms of numerical advantage, scoring six times out of twelve attempts.
Slovakia also has the best weaknesses in the tournament, conceding in them once out of ten opportunities. The Danes scored three goals in ten weak games.
In goal, Wilde corrects the defensive numbers of the team.
Overall, however, Denmark is not very dangerous going forward. In four games, they scored six goals (four of them against Germany and two of them into an empty net) and sent only 45 shots on the opponent’s goal. This is clearly the least of all the teams in the tournament.
They had 19 shots against Germany, against USA nine, against Ten against the Czech Republic and only seven against Sweden.
For comparison, the Slovaks sent 129 shots in four matches. Slovakia will go into the match as clear favourites.
“We mainly look at ourselves. We don’t look at who we are playing against,” said the coach of the domestic hockey players, Martin Dendis.
“It is very important for us now to regenerate and start from scratch. A new competition begins, we start again. Hungry but humble.”
A native of both Spain and Canada
The Danish team consists mainly of players from domestic competitions.
Ten started in the second highest Danish league, six in the youth competition and two in the highest senior league.
Five are active in Swedish competitions – two in junior, three in adolescent. One player plays in the Finnish under-18 league and one in the Canadian youth school competition.
The birthplaces of some hockey players are also interesting. The team also includes a native of Canada, Sweden, Finland and Spain.
The Danes brought the lightest and youngest team to the tournament. They are the only team with an average age under 17 years.
The head coach of the team is Flemming Green, who has been leading it for the fourth year. However, he himself never played hockey at a professional level.
He has been training for the 20th year, he started just when selecting the under-18s, to which he returned several times.
The Danes have achieved their main goal, now they can only surprise.
