“So far, it’s going as we planned it. It’s great,” says Dalibor Dvorsky.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDRE RINGUETTE
Before the tournament Europe’s teams were given little chance — with the exception of Finland and Sweden both able to load their rosters with NHL players. The rest were widely viewed as also-rans.
Slovakia, for examplee, could make their own plans out of the limelight. Now, they’re one of only four teams still standing in the men’s tournament.
“So far it’s going as we planned it. It’s great,” said Dalibor Dvorsky, who, at 20, is the youngest player on the team.
He’s also second in team scoring, behind only Juraj Slafkovsky, the wise old veteran at 21. Slafkovsky has seven points in four games; Dvorsky has six.
Slovakia got off to a great start, beating Finland in its first game, with both Dvorsky and Slafkovsky scoring. Slafkovsky scored in all three preliminary-round games, and Dvorsky potted the goal that secured the group win.
When Slovakia steamrolled over Germany, five of the six goal scorers were under 26. or, 21st century kids. In fact, with an average age of 27.9, Slovakia is the youngest team in the men’s tournament, albeit by a hair. Team USA’s average age is 28.0. Six Slovak players were born in 2000 or later, and another six in 1999.
Slovakia’s next generation has arrived.
Their brightest stars – Slafkovsky, Dvorsky, and defenseman Simon Nemec – are three of the four youngest players on the team and just at the beginning of their careers. Slafkovsky and Nemec are also childhood friends.
“We used to dream about playing for Slovakia when we were small and about all the things we wanted to achieve. So far, it’s happening,” Slafkovsky said.
“I’m just enjoying everything now. Maybe when we’re 45 and retired, we’ll look back at this and laugh. But right now I want to enjoy moments like this while they’re happening,” he added.
For a young team, a good start was important to get the ball rolling – and who knows if anyone can stop it in Milan? They have youthful energy, and they play with purpose.
“We are a band of brothers who work for the team, for each other, and we’re living our dream,” said head coach Vladimír Orszagh.
“Before the tournament, we said that if we were going to have a chance to go as far as possible, we’d need to stick to the plan, stick to the brotherhood, and play for each other and for our country,” he added.
Slovakia also has veteran leadership in team captain Tomas Tatar and two-time Stanley Cup champion Erik Cernak.
“We have a lot of young guys on the team, and it’s a learning process. Year by year, everybody’s getting better. During these Olympics, everybody’s looked great in every single game. We’re playing as a team, like a family, and that’s important for us,” Cernak said.
Captain Tatar scored his first goal of the tournament when he buried the empty-netter against Germany.
“I remember the first tournament, three or four years ago, when Simon and Juraj came up. I was fortunate to play with them, and I thought this generation might be able to help us,” Tatar said.
“Here I am, still playing with them, and I’m enjoying it. They’re great guys, eager to learn and to get better. And obviously, they’ve already established themselves in the NHL as great players,” he added.
The appreciation runs both ways.
“We’re playing for each other, as one, like a real team should. We have great older guys like Tatar, Cernak, Fehervary, all these older guys,” Dvorsky said.
And even “old” is relative. While Tatar turned 35 in December, Cernak is only 28, and Martin “Fehy” Fehervary just 26.
“They set a great standard. We’re all in the same boat, and we’re just doing the things we should. That’s why we’re having success so far,” Dvorsky added.
In the semifinal, Slovakia will face its toughest test of the tournament in USA. It may, in fact, be just the way they like it.
“I like being the underdog so you can surprise people," Slafkovsky said.
“I like being young and trying to prove ourselves, but we’ve got to win at least one more game. I want a medal."
Slovakia, for examplee, could make their own plans out of the limelight. Now, they’re one of only four teams still standing in the men’s tournament.
“So far it’s going as we planned it. It’s great,” said Dalibor Dvorsky, who, at 20, is the youngest player on the team.
He’s also second in team scoring, behind only Juraj Slafkovsky, the wise old veteran at 21. Slafkovsky has seven points in four games; Dvorsky has six.
Slovakia got off to a great start, beating Finland in its first game, with both Dvorsky and Slafkovsky scoring. Slafkovsky scored in all three preliminary-round games, and Dvorsky potted the goal that secured the group win.
When Slovakia steamrolled over Germany, five of the six goal scorers were under 26. or, 21st century kids. In fact, with an average age of 27.9, Slovakia is the youngest team in the men’s tournament, albeit by a hair. Team USA’s average age is 28.0. Six Slovak players were born in 2000 or later, and another six in 1999.
Slovakia’s next generation has arrived.
Their brightest stars – Slafkovsky, Dvorsky, and defenseman Simon Nemec – are three of the four youngest players on the team and just at the beginning of their careers. Slafkovsky and Nemec are also childhood friends.
“We used to dream about playing for Slovakia when we were small and about all the things we wanted to achieve. So far, it’s happening,” Slafkovsky said.
“I’m just enjoying everything now. Maybe when we’re 45 and retired, we’ll look back at this and laugh. But right now I want to enjoy moments like this while they’re happening,” he added.
For a young team, a good start was important to get the ball rolling – and who knows if anyone can stop it in Milan? They have youthful energy, and they play with purpose.
“We are a band of brothers who work for the team, for each other, and we’re living our dream,” said head coach Vladimír Orszagh.
“Before the tournament, we said that if we were going to have a chance to go as far as possible, we’d need to stick to the plan, stick to the brotherhood, and play for each other and for our country,” he added.
Slovakia also has veteran leadership in team captain Tomas Tatar and two-time Stanley Cup champion Erik Cernak.
“We have a lot of young guys on the team, and it’s a learning process. Year by year, everybody’s getting better. During these Olympics, everybody’s looked great in every single game. We’re playing as a team, like a family, and that’s important for us,” Cernak said.
Captain Tatar scored his first goal of the tournament when he buried the empty-netter against Germany.
“I remember the first tournament, three or four years ago, when Simon and Juraj came up. I was fortunate to play with them, and I thought this generation might be able to help us,” Tatar said.
“Here I am, still playing with them, and I’m enjoying it. They’re great guys, eager to learn and to get better. And obviously, they’ve already established themselves in the NHL as great players,” he added.
The appreciation runs both ways.
“We’re playing for each other, as one, like a real team should. We have great older guys like Tatar, Cernak, Fehervary, all these older guys,” Dvorsky said.
And even “old” is relative. While Tatar turned 35 in December, Cernak is only 28, and Martin “Fehy” Fehervary just 26.
“They set a great standard. We’re all in the same boat, and we’re just doing the things we should. That’s why we’re having success so far,” Dvorsky added.
In the semifinal, Slovakia will face its toughest test of the tournament in USA. It may, in fact, be just the way they like it.
“I like being the underdog so you can surprise people," Slafkovsky said.
“I like being young and trying to prove ourselves, but we’ve got to win at least one more game. I want a medal."