RED DEER. Every year, the Under-20 World Cup is one of the hockey fans’ holidays. Slovakia will start them on December 27 at 3.30 CET against the United States.
The overall reality of our hockey is not pleasant. But this group of talented players is meant to bring fans a lot of joy.
A hard fight awaits the selection of coach Ivan Feneš from the beginning.
Since the championship in 2014, the Slovak team has managed to win more than once in the group only twice out of eight attempts. Slovakia last won three wins at one championship in 2015.
Sad numbers, but a new generation is coming, a new system, new coaches. Last year we saw some progress, but the Slovaks could not achieve a better result than the classic procedure with one win and subsequent loss in the quarterfinals.
Will they be able to get further than the quarterfinals after seven years? The prospects are fine, but we’d better stick to that statement. It is necessary to curb positivity and stay in “hope”, at most “faith”.
A life tournament may be waiting for young Slovaks. (Author: TASR)
The basis is to realize that Slovakia plays in the death squad. It will be necessary to adapt the game system to this, to prepare for the style of play of the opponents.
The team around Chromiak, Kňažek and Nemca is waiting for the team from the USA, Sweden, Russia and Switzerland. The light opponent is out of sight – especially when compared to the second group, which is played by Canadians, Finns, Czechs, Germans and Austrians.
Sportnet and Oh My Hockey editor Samuel Tirpák looked at the Slovak team through the eyes of a scout.
First attack: Slafkovský-Demek-Chromiak
The first attack could be a trio Juraj Slafkovský – Jakub Demek – Martin Chromiak. This attack will be the largest weapon of Slovak choice and consists of three different, but at the same time similarly dangerous attackers.
All three can score, but also create a game and synchronize their movement so that the whole formation benefits.
Slafkovský he is the youngest of the three and at the same time has the biggest “upside”. So if he meets the requirements, he will have a stellar career. He did not score at last year’s championship in five matches. In terms of performance-points, no Slovak has had such bad luck for a good few years. He was one of the best players on the team.
The experience of the Finnish top competition should also help him to be more productive. In the TPS Turku organization, he won a stable position in the first team between the beginning of the year and the approaching half of the season.
Demek was the Vegas Golden Knights’ selection in last year’s draft at the end of the fourth round. He is currently one of the best WHL players. In the jersey of the loaded Edmonton Oil Kings, he collects point by point, scoring in seventeen consecutive matches.
The physical two-way center will be the player that Slafkovský and Chromiak should suit on the wings. At the same time, it is built on the style of hockey that is played at the championship of this age category.
In an attack, he can cause a lot of chaos and get the opponent under pressure. If it fulfills its potential, it will fit perfectly into the concept of the Slovak game.
The third in the game and the most experienced of the three, Martin Chromiak, is a fast-paced winger who already has something to do at various stages of development.
He is more of a game creator than a shooter, but it must be added that he can do both. His speed is especially evident in the moments when he has a puck on a hockey stick. In the first three steps, he can create a sufficient gap between himself and an opponent in the middle zone, and thus create an individual chance, or create it for a teammate.
Martin Chromiak in the Ontario Reign jersey in the AHL. (Author: Twitter Ontario Reign)
This is the main factor why he is called an “explosive” player overseas. This aspect of his game should bring the Slovaks at least a few goals.