Last year Slovakia finished in a respectable 10th place. Team Slovakia has been placed in Group H (Helsinki) for the preliminary rounds this year. Others in the group include Belarus, Canada, Finland, France, Kazakhstan, Switzerland, and USA. This is a very strong group, arguably even stronger than the other group (on paper). Team Slovakia is facing Canada first tomorrow, (Friday, May 4th) at 4:15. The rest of their schedule for the preliminary rounds are:
Sunday, May 6th at 4:15 vs Finland
Monday, May 7th at 8:15 vs USA
Wednesday, May 9th at 4:15 vs Kazakhstan
Saturday, May 12th at 12:15 vs Belarus
Sunday, May 13th at 8:15 vs Switzerland
Tuesday, May 15th at 4:15 vs France
Team Slovakia has 6 players returning from last year. The ones that are the most recognizable from last year is Mirolav Satan with 3 goals and 2 assists for 5 points in 6 games, Tomas Survoy who recorded 1 goal and 1 assist for 2 points in 6 games, and Peter Hamrlik. Here is Team Slovakia's Roster this year along with the player's club:
Coach: Vladimir Vujtek
Forwards:
Milan Bartovic (Bili Tygri Liberec)
Mario Bliznak (Sparta Prague)
Marcel Hacak (HC Kosice)
Marcel Hossa (Dinamo Riga)
Libor Hudacek (Slovan Bratislava)
Tomas Kopecky (Florida Panthers)
Michel Miklik (HC Kosice)
Juraj Mikus (TPS Turku)
Branko Radivojevic (Atlant Mythshi)
Mirolav Satan (Slovan Bratislava)
Tomas Surovy (Cska Moscow)
Tomas Tatar (Grand Rapids Griffins)
Defense:
Ivan Baranka (Spartak Moscow)
Zdeno Chara (Boston Bruins)
Dominik Granak (Dynamo Mosco)
Kristian Kudroc (Assat Pori)
Andrej Sekera (Buffalo Sabres)
Tomas Starosta (Yugra Khanty-Mansisk)
Rene Vydareny (HC Ceske Budejovice)
Goaltenders:
Peter Hamerlik (Ocelari Trinec)
Jan Laco (Lev Poprad)
My Prediction: Slovakia will finish 3rd or 4th in their division for the preliminary rounds
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