History of ice hockey in Slovakia
Encyclopedia
In 1908, the International Ice Hockey Federation
, an international organization that still runs most of the international hockey tournaments today, was established. In Slovakia
(as a part of former Czechoslovakia
), Canadian-styled ice hockey was popularized during the European Championships in High Tatras
in 1925.
In 1929 the first official tournament took place in Slovakia. The Tatra Cup
is the second oldest tournament in Europe, after the Spengler Cup
in Switzerland. The first organization of Slovak ice hockey was established under the name of Slovenská župa kanadského ľadového hokeja as a part of the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation in what was then Czechoslovakia.
The first organized competition was held in 1930.
Throughout the course of ice hockey history in Czechoslovakia, many Slovak players became eligible to play for the Czechoslovakian national team. Among those who were able achieve this was Ladislav Troják
; A native of Košice
who left for Prague
to play for the LTC Praha – at those times considered to be the best ice hockey team in the country—in 1934. From there he was only a step away from playing for the national team.
Czechoslovakia and its successor states are rated as being among the leading nations on the international scene, thanks to their triumphs in the Winter Olympic Games
and the World Championships
.
However, the Slovak national team had to face a difficult challenge in 1993 after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. According to the IIHF regulations it had to compete with countries with little or no ice hockey tradition at all to prove being worthy to compete at the highest level. Within only a few years of independent existence as a young nation it would mark its biggest triumph ever by winning the world championships in Sweden in 2002.
International Ice Hockey Federation
The International Ice Hockey Federation is the worldwide governing body for ice hockey and in-line hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 70 members...
, an international organization that still runs most of the international hockey tournaments today, was established. In Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
(as a part of former Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
), Canadian-styled ice hockey was popularized during the European Championships in High Tatras
High Tatras
High Tatras or High Tatra are a mountain range on the borders between Slovakia and Poland. They are a part of the Tatra Mountains...
in 1925.
In 1929 the first official tournament took place in Slovakia. The Tatra Cup
Tatra Cup
The Tatra Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament held in Poprad, Slovakia. It is the second oldest European club tournament, after the Spengler Cup....
is the second oldest tournament in Europe, after the Spengler Cup
Spengler Cup
The Spengler Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament held in Davos, Switzerland. First held in 1923, the Spengler Cup is often cited as the oldest invitational ice hockey tournament in the world. The event is hosted by the Swiss team HC Davos and played each year in Davos, Switzerland, between...
in Switzerland. The first organization of Slovak ice hockey was established under the name of Slovenská župa kanadského ľadového hokeja as a part of the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation in what was then Czechoslovakia.
The first organized competition was held in 1930.
Throughout the course of ice hockey history in Czechoslovakia, many Slovak players became eligible to play for the Czechoslovakian national team. Among those who were able achieve this was Ladislav Troják
Ladislav Troják
Ladislav Troják was the first Slovak ice hockey player in the national team of Czechoslovakia and also the first Slovak hockey player with a title of World Champion...
; A native of Košice
Košice
Košice is a city in eastern Slovakia. It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary...
who left for Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
to play for the LTC Praha – at those times considered to be the best ice hockey team in the country—in 1934. From there he was only a step away from playing for the national team.
Czechoslovakia and its successor states are rated as being among the leading nations on the international scene, thanks to their triumphs in the Winter Olympic Games
Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
and the World Championships
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
.
However, the Slovak national team had to face a difficult challenge in 1993 after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. According to the IIHF regulations it had to compete with countries with little or no ice hockey tradition at all to prove being worthy to compete at the highest level. Within only a few years of independent existence as a young nation it would mark its biggest triumph ever by winning the world championships in Sweden in 2002.
Notable people
- Matej Buckna, a Canadian coach of Slovak origin, who helped to develop ice hockey in Czechoslovakia.
- Ján Starší, a coach and team manager from an older generation.
Noted hockey players
- Jozef GolonkaJozef GolonkaJozef Golonka is an ice hockey player who played in the Czechoslovak Extraliga. He won two bronze medals in three Olympics. He was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in 1998....
- Peter BondraPeter BondraPeter Bondra is a former Slovak professional ice hockey player. He was the general manager of the Slovak national team from 2007 to 2011...
- Zdeno CháraZdeno CháraZdeno Chára is a Slovak professional ice hockey defenseman. He is the captain of the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and won the Norris Trophy while playing for them in 2008–09. At 6 ft 9 , he is the tallest player ever to play in the NHL...
- Pavol DemitraPavol DemitraPavol Demitra was a Slovak professional ice hockey player. He played sixteen seasons in the National Hockey League , two in the Czechoslovak First Ice Hockey League /Slovak Extraliga and one in the Kontinental Hockey League . Known as an offensive player, Demitra was a first- or second-line...
- Marián GáboríkMarian GaborikMarián Gáborík is a Slovak professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League . He began his career in the Slovak Extraliga with HC Dukla Trenčín for two seasons before being drafted third overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the...
- Jaroslav HalákJaroslav HalákJaroslav Halák is a Slovak professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League . Halák was the 271st overall pick by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.-Montreal Canadiens:...
- Michal HandzušMichal HandzusMichal Handzuš is a Slovak professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
- Marcel HossaMarcel HossaMarcel Hossa is a Slovak professional ice hockey player currently playing for Spartak Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League . His older brother Marián plays for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
- Marián HossaMarian HossaMarián Hossa is a Slovak professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League . Hossa was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft; after playing for the Senators, he played for the Atlanta Thrashers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and...
- Vincent LukáčVincent LukacVincent Lukáč is a former professional Slovak ice hockey player.He was a player of HC Košice , HC Dukla Jihlava, SC Rosenheim, WEV Wien, Kirkcaldy, HC Streatham Redskins in London and Fife Flyers of Scotland...
- Vladimír DzurillaVladimír DzurillaVladimír Dzurilla was a Slovak ice hockey goalkeeper playing for Czechoslovakia....
- Stan MikitaStan MikitaStanislav "Stan" Mikita , is a Slovak-born Canadian retired professional ice hockey player, generally regarded as the best centre of the 1960s. In 1961, he won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks, with whom he played his entire career.-Early life:Mikita was born in Sokolče, Slovak Republic...
- Igor LibaIgor LibaIgor Liba is a former Slovak ice hockey player. Played on 1992 Bronze Medal winning Olympic Hockey team for Czechoslovakia...
- Žigmund PálffyZigmund PalffyŽigmund "Ziggy" Pálffy is a Slovak professional ice hockey player of Hungarian origin, who plays for HK 36 Skalica of the Slovak Extraliga....
- Branko RadivojevičBranko RadivojevicBranko Radivojevič is a Slovak professional ice hockey forward currently playing for Spartak Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League...
- Miroslav ŠatanMiroslav SatanMiroslav Šatan is a Slovak professional ice hockey right winger for HC Slovan Bratislava of the Slovak Extraliga.-Pre-NHL:In 1991–92, he played for the local HC Topolcany and did remarkably well, as he scored 30 goals and had 22 assists in just 31 games. He then graduated to the senior division...
- Anton ŠťastnýAnton StastnyAnton Šťastný is a former Slovak professional ice hockey left winger who played nine seasons with the Quebec Nordiques of the National Hockey League from 1980 until 1989. He was the first player born and trained in Slovakia to be drafted by an NHL team...
- Marián ŠťastnýMarian StastnyMarián Šťastný is a former Slovak professional ice hockey right wing who played for five seasons in the National Hockey League from 1981 through 1986....
- Peter ŠťastnýPeter StastnyPeter Šťastný , also known colloquially as "Peter the Great" and "Stosh", is a retired Slovak professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League from 1980 to 1995. During his time with the Quebec Nordiques, Stastny became a Canadian citizen. Since 2004, he has also served as a...
- Jozef StümpelJozef StümpelJozef Stümpel is a Slovak professional ice hockey centre currently playing for HC Spartak Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League .-Playing career:...
- Marek SvatošMarek SvatošMarek Svatoš is a Slovak professional ice hockey forward who is currently a free agent. In the 2010–11 season, Svatoš had played for Avangard Omsk of the Kontinental Hockey League before signing with the St. Louis Blues of the NHL...
- Róbert ŠvehlaRóbert ŠvehlaRóbert Švehla is a Slovak retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the NHL for 9 seasons from 1995 until 2003.- Career :Švehla was drafted 78th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, but he did not play a game for them before moving on to the Florida Panthers...
- Ľubomír VišňovskýLubomír VišnovskýĽubomír Višňovský is a Slovak professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
- Richard ZedníkRichard ZednikRichard Zedník is a Slovak professional hockey winger, currently without a contract. He has played in the National Hockey League for the Washington Capitals, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, and Florida Panthers....
See also
- History of ice hockey
- Slovakia national ice hockey team