Nickname(s) | Repre, Chlapci, Naši chlapci |
---|---|
Association | Slovak Ice Hockey Federation |
General Manager | Róbert Švehla |
Head coach | Zdeno Cíger |
Assistants |
Ernest Bokroš Miroslav Miklošovič |
Captain | Andrej Sekera |
Most games | Miroslav Šatan (175)1 |
Top scorer | Miroslav Šatan (85)1 |
Most points | Miroslav Šatan (162)1 |
Home stadium | Zimný Štadión Ondreja Nepelu |
Team colors | |
IIHF code | SVK |
Ranking | |
Current IIHF | 8 |
Highest IIHF | 3 (2004) |
Lowest IIHF | 10 (2011) |
First international | |
Bohemia 12–0 Slovakia (Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany; 1 February 1940)2 |
|
Biggest win | |
Slovakia 20–0 Bulgaria (Poprad, Slovakia; 18 March 1994)2 |
|
Biggest defeat | |
Bohemia 12–0 Slovakia (Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany; 1 February 1940)2 |
|
IIHF World Championships | |
Appearances | 20 (first in 1994) |
Best result | Gold(2002) |
Olympics | |
Appearances | 6 (first in 1994) |
International record (W–L–T) | |
285-233-49 |
Medal record | ||
---|---|---|
World Championships | ||
2002 Sweden | ||
2000 Russia | ||
2012 Finland/Sweden | ||
2003 Finland |
The Slovak men's national ice hockey team is the national ice hockey team of Slovakia and is controlled by the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation. As of March 2010, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), the world governing body of hockey, ranks them as the seventh strongest national team in the world. It is one of the most successful national ice hockey teams in the world. The team's general manager is Róbert Švehla and their head coach is Zdeno Cíger.
In the last sixteen years, Slovakia has won four medals at the World Championships, including a gold medal in 2002 in Sweden. In winter Olympic games, Slovakia's highest achievement is 4th place in Vancouver 2010. In the tournament they won against favourites Russia and Sweden, and lost against Canada in the semifinals and against Finland in the bronze medal game.
The Slovak national team was formed following the breakup of Czechoslovakia, as the country was split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. For years, the Czechs kept control over how the national team was run, and even had quotas instituted to ensure a minimal participation of Slovak players on the Czechoslovak national team. While the Czechs were allowed to compete at the highest pool (A), the IIHF ruled that because fewer players of the former Czechoslovak team were Slovaks, Slovakia would be required to start international play in Pool C. However, Slovakia's play in the lower pools won it promotion to pool A by 1996. See also Post-Cold War period of the IIHF world championships.