Five forced changes and a trio waiting for their debut: Ramsay welcomed 20 players before the Swiss Cup – Športky.sk

BRATISLAVA – The coach of Slovak hockey players Craig Ramsay welcomed nineteen hockey players at Monday’s meeting before leaving for the Swiss Cup. Three of them – defender Mislav Rosandič and attackers Miroslav Mucha and Adam Liška missed the evening training due to complications with traffic and subsequent delayed testing. Goalkeeper Patrik Rybár will join the national team on Tuesday. Libor Hudáček and Martin Gernát, who work at the club level in Switzerland, will only join the team at the tournament venue. All players passed the coronavirus tests after arriving at the hotel, all results were negative.

The management of the Slovak national hockey team had to make five changes to the staff before the NaturEnergie Challenge (December 16 and 17). Mário Grman, Jakub Minárik, Adrián Holešinský, Martin Marinčin and Marko Daňo dropped out of the original nomination due to injuries. They were replaced by Patrik Koch, Peter Zuzin, Jozef Baláž, Mislav Rosandič and Róbert Varga, for whom it will be the premiere in the national jersey. “We know that there is always the possibility of injury, so we put a lot of substitutes on the list. Marko Daňo has a problem with his shoulder, today he had to undergo a magnetic resonance examination. Marinčin has a wounded tendon and Minárik’s knee,” Assistant General Manager Oto Haščák told reporters.

In addition to Varga, his teammate from Nitra Jozef Baláž, who was already part of the national team at the German Cup, should also make his debut in the A-team. However, he did not start a single duel due to a positive test for COVID-19. “We wanted to see Baláž already in the German Cup and we were frustrated that it didn’t work out. But we want to see him internationally.” added Hascak. The debut in the most valuable jersey can also be experienced by the third newcomer in the squad, Andrej Golian from Slovan Bratislava. Baláž admitted that after the vicissitudes of the German Cup he also cried, now he is looking forward to the first match: “I believe it will work out now. I was glad that the coach remembered me again. I believe I will bring ferocity and fighting spirit.”

The management of the national team also monitors others

The management of the national team also monitors other players who have not yet received a chance in preparation, but some of them did not miss the past World Cups. “We are trying to select players from the Slovak extra league. We know Skalický, we know how he plays, but we wanted to see Pospíšil, but he has now moved to Davos and the club did not want to release him for a busy program. “The other players are in search and we are watching them,” revealed Hascak.

The GM assistant also commented on the overseas players that the coaches are counting on at the Beijing Olympics. “The question of whether there will be NHL players at the Olympics is still unresolved. So it’s hard to say. But we want to build the best team, we don’t have the same choice as the other federations. But we want the best in Beijing.”

In the Lonza Arena in Vispe, Slovaks will meet Norway on Thursday. The winner of the duel will compete a day later with the winner of the match Switzerland – Latvia, the defeated teams will play for 3rd place. After two and a half years, David Bondra will play in the national team, the last time he played for the national team at the 2019 World Cup. “I’m very happy to be here. I feel good, we have a very good team and I’m glad I can show up again. I don’t think about the Olympics, but I have to focus on the Swiss Cup and then I can think of other things.” said Bondra.

Slovak hockey players completed their first training session after Monday’s meeting and more are waiting for them on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the whole team will move to Visp. Originally, they were to start in the first match against the Latvians, but the tournament organizers changed the program after the cancellation of Russia’s Olympic selection. The Russians will not present themselves under the Alps due to the unfavorable pandemic situation.

nomination of the Slovak Republic for the Swiss Cup 2021 in Vispe:

goalkeepers: Patrik Rybar (Dinamo Minsk), Matej Tomek (HC Kometa Brno)

defenders: Martin Bučko (HC Motor České Budějovice), Daniel Gachulinec (HC Slovan Bratislava), Martin Gernát (HC Lausanne), Andrej Golian (HC Slovan Bratislava), Patrik Koch (HV Vítkovice Ridera), Michal Ivan and Mislav Rosandič (Bílí Tygři Liberec) , Dávid Mudrák (HK Dukla Ingema Michalovce)

attackers: Dávid Bondra (HK Poprad), Peter Zuzin (HKM Zvolen), Dávid Gríger (HC Bílí Tygři Liberec), Libor Hudáček (HC Lugano), Miloš Kelemen (BK Mladá Boleslav), Adam Liška (Severstaľ Čerepovec), Róbert Varga, Jozef Baláž (both HK Nitra), Miroslav Mucha (Lake Superior University), Pavol Regenda (HK Dukla Ingema Michalovce), Miloš Roman (HC Oceláři Třinec), Juraj Šiška (HC Nové Zámky)

Switzerland nomination:

goalkeepers: Reto Berra (Friborg), Leonardo Genoni (train).

defenders: Patrick Geering, Christian Marti (both ZSC Lions), Andrea Glauser, Fabian Heldner (both Lausanne), Samuel Kreis (Zug), Simon Le Coultre (Servette), Romain Loeffel (Lugano), Yannick Rathgeb (Biel)

attackers: Christoph Bertschy, Damien Riat (both Lausanne), Gaëtan Haas (Biel), Fabrice Herzog, Marco Müller, Sven Senteler, Yannick Zehdner (all Zug), Denis Hollenstein, Denis Malgin (both ZSC Lions), Mauro Jörg, Samuel Walser (both Friborg), Tristan Scherwey (Bern)

Latvia nomination:

goalkeepers: Ivars Punnenovs (Langnau), Erik Vitols (Dinamo Riga), Artyom Leshchenko (HK Riga)

defenders: Ralfs Freibergs, Kristaps Zile, Karlis Čukste, Patriks Ozols (all Dinamo Riga), Janis Jaks (HK Sochi), Uvis Balinskis (Litvínov), Roberts Mamčics (Zlín), Nauris Sejejs (Le Chaux De Fonds)

attackers: Nikolai Jeliseevs, Daniels Berzins (both Dinamo Riga), Kaspars Daugavins (Bern), Ronalds Kenins (Lausanne), Deniss Smirnovs (Servette Geneva), Toms Andersons (Le Chaux De Fonds), Rodrigo Abols (Örebro), Roberts Bukarts (Vítkovice) , Martinš Dzierkals (Plzeň), Andris Džerinš (Linz), Renars Krastenbergs (Villach), Rihards Marenis (Vita Hästen)

Norwegian nomination:

goalkeepers: Jonas Arntzen (Orebro), Henrik Haukeland (Färjestad)

defenders: Christian Bull (Nové Zámky), Johannes Johannesen, Max Krogdahl (both Västervik), Andreas Klavestad, Daniel Böen Rokseth (both Stavanger), Emil Lilleberg (Oskarshamn), Hakon Nilsen (Stjernen), Mattias Norstebo (Bjorkloven)

attackers: Gustav Willman Borvik (Södertälje), Tobias Fladeby (Tingsryd), Viktor Granholm (Frisk Asker), Jörgen Karterud, Magnus Brekke Henriksen, Mathis Olimb (all Valerengen), Ludvig Hoff, Markus Söberg (both Stavanger), Sondre Olden, Mathias Trettenes ( both Le Chaux De Fonds), Eirik Salsten, Samuel Solem, Patrick Thoresen (all Storhamar), Markus Vikingstad (Fishtown Pinguin)

tournament program:

Thursday, December 16

16.15 Norway – SLOVAKIA

19.45 Switzerland – Latvia

Friday, December 17

16.15 Latvia – SLOVAKIA / Norway

19.45 Switzerland – Norway / SLOVAKIA

• The author: © List
• VIDEO: TASR / Jakub Popelka
• Source: TASR