Slovakia secured a victory against Switzerland at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, keeping their semifinal qualification hopes alive under head coach František Štolc. Tomáš Selič led the offensive effort with two goals, while Matúš Válek added a goal late in the second period.
Slovakia Keeps Semifinal Hopes Alive Against Switzerland
Entering the final group-stage matchup, the Slovak squad needed a victory against the Swiss alongside outside help from Canada against Sweden to crack the top four. Štolc’s team opened the tournament with a 3-4 overtime loss to Sweden before dropping a 1-6 decision to host Canada. Facing a Swiss side that had defeated Sweden 7-6, Slovakia capitalized on special teams.
Nolan Thürler initially opened the scoring for Switzerland at 10:30 of the first period, beating Slovak goaltender Jakub Husár with a shot from the left circle, assisted by Adrien Rosa and Sebastian Weber. Slovakia responded precisely one second before their penalty expired when Tomáš Selič intercepted a Swiss miscue and beat goaltender Ayden Huet on a breakaway at 13:51 to tie the game 1-1.
Special Teams and Second-Period Momentum Shifts
The pace accelerated in the middle frame as both teams traded goals and penalties. Selič struck again at 28:16, converting a fortunate bounce off a protihráč with assists from Alexej Hoďovský and Michal Lazovský to give Slovakia a 2-1 lead. Switzerland answered quickly at 28:33 when Léo Ulrich capitalized on an errant pass to beat Husár from the right side, with Jonah Neuenschwander picking up the helper.
With the score deadlocked, Matúš Válek restored the Slovak lead at 38:40, neatly redirecting a nahodený pokus past Huet with assistance from Tomáš Selič and Oliver Botka. The goal gave Slovakia a vital 3-2 edge heading into the dressing room after forty minutes of play.
Did you know? Tomáš Selič plays for HC Kometa Brno in the Czech Republic, anchoring an international contingent of Slovak prospects featuring players from clubs across Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Finland, and the United States.
Closing Out a Tight Victory in the Third Period
Slovakia extended their cushion immediately to start the final period. Miroslav Kalousek pounced on an odrazený puk pred bránkou and jammed it behind Huet at 40:49, pushing the lead to 4-2 with assists credited to Matúš Válek and Tomáš Selič. Despite late pressure from the Swiss attack—including a shot that hit the konštrukciu bránky by Jonah Neuenschwander—Husár and the Slovak defense held firm to preserve the margin.
Goaltender Jakub Husár turned aside numerous chances throughout the contest, notably stopping Alessandro Domenichelli on a breakaway early in the second period to keep the game level. The final shot totals reflected the tight checking, with Slovakia holding an edge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the Slovakia vs. Switzerland match?
Who scored the goals for Slovakia?
Tomáš Selič scored twice, while Matúš Válek added another goal for the Slovak side.
What do the Slovaks need to qualify for the semifinals?
Slovakia needed a win over Switzerland and a subsequent victory by Canada over Sweden to secure a spot in the top four.
What are your thoughts on Slovakia’s performance at this year’s tournament? Join the discussion in the comments below and share this article with fellow hockey fans.
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