According to international hockey reports, the Sweden under-18 men’s national team defeated Slovakia 4–2 in Trenčín during the May world championship final to claim the gold medal. The two national programs meet again during the opening day of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, setting up an early-season rematch.
Roster Continuity From the May World Championship Final
While the upcoming tournament features largely reworked rosters to accommodate new age groups, several players return from the silver-medal Slovak squad. According to team announcements, goaltender Jakub Husár, defenseman Oliver Botka, and forwards Max Melicherík, Oliver Ozogány, Tomáš Selič, and Matúš Válek all retain their places in the national setup for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup clash.
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Swedish and Slovak Tournament Lineups
The Swedish matchday roster features goaltenders Annborn and Forsberg, alongside a defensive core including Lindberg Steén, Lahtinen, Sahlman, Berggren, Törnqvist, and Bjurman. Up front, the Swedish forward lines list Zetterstedt, Forsberg, Jöhnk, Nygren, Sundström, Nyström, Helte, Karlsson, Vestman, Sundberg, Boumedienne, Blom, Eklund Aspe, and Kalldin, according to official lineup data.
The Slovak squad counters with goaltenders Nicko Zakk Havel from HK Dukla Trenčín, Filip Hornáček from HC Slovan Bratislava, and Jakub Husár from HC Košice. The defensive corps features Oliver Botka (HK Nitra), Lucas Čongrády (HK Dukla Trenčín), Alexander Michael Ferreira (HKM Zvolen), Alexej Hoďovský (HC Kometa Brno), Marek Klačanský (HK Dukla Trenčín), Viliam Pikna (HC Slovan Bratislava), Filip Škripec (HK Dukla Trenčín), and Jakub Vasko (HC Košice), based on the official roster publication.
Depth at Forward for the Slovak Selection
Slovakia’s forward lines boast representation from domestic academies and international development leagues. The roster includes Dominik Štefan Domonkos (HC Košice), Richard Halaš (HC Kometa Brno), Miroslav Kalousek (MHK 32 Liptovský Mikuláš), Michal Lazovský (HC Oceláři Třinec), Robert Matula (HKM Zvolen), Max Melicherík (Tappara Tampere), and Oliver Ozogány (Tri-City Storm). Rounding out the attack are Samuel Pisarčík (HK Dukla Trenčín), Patrik Rychlík (HK ŠKP Poprad), Tomáš Šelič (HC Kometa Brno), Jakub Šimončič (MMHK Nitra), Patrik Šiška (HC Topoľčany), Tomáš Suja (HC Energie Karlovy Vary), and Matúš Válek (HC Dynamo Pardubice), according to tournament registration records.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Sweden versus Slovakia match start?
According to tournament organizers, the opening-day fixture begins at 03:00.
Which tournament are Sweden and Slovakia competing in?
The teams face off during the opening day of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Which players return from Slovakia’s silver-medal team in May?
Returning players include goaltender Jakub Husár, defenseman Oliver Botka, and forwards Max Melicherík, Oliver Ozogány, Tomáš Selič, and Matúš Válek, according to team releases.
Join the Discussion
How do you think the revamped Slovak roster will match up against Sweden in this Hlinka Gretzky Cup opener? Leave a comment below and share your tournament predictions.