It has been three years that the Slovaks won’t get past the quarterfinal stage, with two straight appearances there, and no playoff qualification back in 2022 in Edmonton, Alberta. Slovakia’s last medal dates back to 2015, when goalie Denis Godla stole the show, being awarded MVP honors, and Martin Reway was the team’s top scorer.
Related: 2025 World Junior Championship Guide
Almost ten years later, only Erik Cernak turned into a full-time NHL player from that roster. But this season’s roster also features excellent talent, like St. Louis Blues first-round prospect Dalibor Dvorsky. Let’s see who has a chance to make the team for the 2025 World Junior Championship (WJC) in Ottawa, Ontario.
Team Slovakia’s Forwards
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
| Tomas Pobezal HK Nitra | *Dalibor Dvorsky Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) | *Juraj Pekarcik Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) |
| Daniel Jencko UMass (NCAA) | Jan Chovan Tappara U20 (Fin) | Miroslav Satan Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) |
| Tobias Pitka Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL) | Andreas Straka Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) | Adam Cedzo HC Frydek-Mistek (Czechia 2) |
| *Roman Kukumberg HC Slovan Bratislava | *Frantisek Dej HK Dukla Trencin | *Peter Cisar Fargo Force (USHL) |
| Matus Vojtek HK 32 Liptovsky Mikulas | Stanislav Gron HKM Zvolen | Lukas Klecka Sodertalje SK J20 (Swe) |
The Slovaks will likely enter the tournament with five returning forwards. Dalibor Dvorsky and Juraj Pekarcik are thought to be two of the main forces for this team. The former is having a strong rookie season with the Springfield Thunderbirds of the American Hockey League (AHL), while Pekarcik has 29 points through 25 games in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Moncton Wildcats. Both dynamic forwards are Blues draftees.
Another intriguing name in the offensive zone will be Miroslav Satan, son of the former NHL great, who is now playing for the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League (USHL) after being taken by the Washington Capitals in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. It will be interesting to see how Tobias Pitka will fare against a more serious competition. The forward had nice progress this season with the Victoria Grizzlies of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) and may aim for a middle-six role.
Slovakia’s offensive roster may not be the strongest in the tournament, but the talent is there, especially with the addition of Dvorsky.
Team Slovakia’s Defense
| Left Defense | Right Defense |
| *Maxim Strbak Michigan State (NCAA) | Richard Baran Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) |
| *Luka Radivojevic Muskegon Lumberjack (USHL) | *Milan Pisoja HK Dukla Michalovce |
| Samuel Kupec Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL) | Peter Valent Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| Samuel Barcik HK Spisska Nova Ves |
Team Slovakia’s defense seems to be of good quality judging by the roster, with the Buffalo Sabres’ Maxim Strbak leading the pack. The son of former NHL and Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) defenseman Martin, who will be working with the national team at the upcoming WJC, is enjoying a good sophomore season with Michigan State University and will most likely have first-unit duties in all situations.
Two other interesting defensemen are representing the USHL – Richard Baran and Luka Radivojevic. The latter is also coming from a hockey family and is very likely to hear his name called in the first or second round at the 2025 NHL selections. Another two defensemen likely to make the final roster are QMJHL blueliners Samuel Kupec and Peter Valent, who is a teammate of forward Andreas Straka.
There are several other eligible defensemen in the North American junior leagues, and the tournament’s preparation will determine who will get his chance in Ottawa.
Team Slovakia’s Goalies
| *Samuel Urban Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) |
| Alan Lendak Fargo Force (USHL) |
| Lukas Fursten South Shore Kings (NCDC) |
Goalies seem to be the right spot on this year’s team, with returnee Samuel Urban the most likely pick for the starting duties. However, Denis Godla wasn’t thought to be a top prospect back in 2015, demonstrating that in a short tournament anything can happen.
The USHL will again be well-represented, with Alan Lendak having a good shot at the backup spot and a couple of games, while the options for the third-string goalies are ample. If the coaching staff will seek experience, Lukas Fursten, who is in his second year in North America, is the most logical choice.
Dreaming a Medal
The Slovaks don’t seem to have a medal-worthy roster this year, so it will be hard for them to get home with one. However, historically, Slovakia has demonstrated that they can surprise other teams, and maybe they will shock some of the bigger ones once again. However, the most likely outcome for them is a quarterfinal appearance.
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