Slovakia Relegated - What Happened?

[David McConnor]

With Switzerland getting past Slovakia 2-1 today, it clinches that not only will the Swiss remain in the big tourney, but that the Slovaks will be demoted to Division I for next year.

A very low point for supposedly one of the 7 main hockey powers.

Click to read more...

 

[pihinalle]

In U20 Slovakia is far from being a hockey power.

 

[Panopticon]

It's sort of sad, but it's good to see other nations having success (to a certain extent) as well. Slovakia must have had a really bad crop this year or a really bad coach (and I thought Finlad did... this certainly puts things into perspective).

I saw their game against the US and they looked good sometimes but had real trouble finishing the many chances Jack Johnson and friends tried to serve them. They also looked very unorganized.

The sad thing is, their skating and passing looked better than Team Finland's at times...

 

[Drake1588]

They have an excellent team of mature players in their prime for Worlds and Olympic play, where age isn't a factor, but the Slovak pipeline doesn't churn out that kind of talent year in and year out. Only Canada is truly capable of doing that, really. Most countries have one good year, then a dip of a year or two, then maybe another strong year.

Those strong years can populate the core of a contending national team for tourneys like the WJCs (with short age windows) for a couple of years. When the well runs dry for more than two to three years, though, relegation can certainly be the result. Couple that with the rise of a handful of traditionally second-tier countries as hockey factories that can hold their heads high, and this can happen. They'll probably be back before long,

 

[Jazz]

It's sort of sad, but it's good to see other nations having success (to a certain extent) as well. Slovakia must have had a really bad crop this year or a really bad coach (and I thought Finlad did... this certainly puts things into perspective).

I saw their game against the US and they looked good sometimes but had real trouble finishing the many chances Jack Johnson and friends tried to serve them. They also looked very unorganized.

The sad thing is, their skating and passing looked better than Team Finland's at times...

It is more than 'just' a bad year. Their hockey federation and leagues have not done a good job taking care of junior players. One reason why the majority who are drafted into the CHL jump at the chance.

Anyone looking for in-depth information about why the situation is the way it is in Slovakia, click here - "More troubles ahead for Slovakia's junior program"

Don't automatically assume that they will be back in 2 years either.

 

[Checker*]

They need to adopt the "just ice the puck" strategy which seemed to work well.

 

[12# Peter Bondra]

To add to that thread Jazz posted: Our IHF president said they would make things to help the junior program but that are pure lies. There hasnt been nothing done for the juniors since 1989 when socialism fell here.

Secondly, its a weird decision process. Konrad, our starter, played only 8 junior League games while we had goalies with better stats and having played more games which werent called up. Many people here are happy we fell and hope that maybe now the Hockey Federation do something cause our juniors stink. Our junior League's are full of corruption, disorganization and chaos.

 

[GKJ]

doesn't Slovakia still have to play Germany and Belarus?

 

[Jazz]

doesn't Slovakia still have to play Germany and Belarus?

The preliminary round loss to Germany carries over into the Relegation round. Slovakia only has 1 game vs Belarus left.

 

[12# Peter Bondra]

Its kind of sad Juraj Simek scored the GWG which put us out. Very sad.

 

[GKJ]

Well, while we're talking about relegation, who's getting promoted?

 

[tony2532]

Well, while we're talking about relegation, who's getting promoted?

I thought I heard on one of the televised games that Kazakstan and Denmark were being promoted next year.

 

[Panopticon]

I thought I heard on one of the televised games that Kazakstan and Denmark were being promoted next year.

Great. I wish good things for Denmark, they're one of the emerging hockey nations that I wish success for (others include UK, Japan and others like that...)

 

[PanniniClaus]

Good for Switzerland, I would hate to see them take a step back. My problem with them is that they have been stuck in neutral. The Slovaks going down? Should not happen, not with 13 players from the CHL and some NHL draft picks. They had more than enough size( too much maybe on big ice?) They did not get the puck to the net enough nor drive the net without the puck. Special teams were not good and goaltending was not super. The team did not score enough, plain and simple- a farce and now they head to Div 1 where they will probably bounce back up but if you cannot score it is no certainty.

 

[Checker*]

I thought I heard on one of the televised games that Kazakstan and Denmark were being promoted next year.

High five!

 

[Jazz]

Well, while we're talking about relegation, who's getting promoted?

I thought I heard on one of the televised games that Kazakstan and Denmark were being promoted next year.

That is correct, both won their respective qualifying tournaments (ie, Div I groups) a couple of weeks ago.

 

[MOGiLNY]

And without success at the juniors, how much longer will Slovakia manage to stay up in the top men's division?

 

[MOGiLNY]

Wow, such a close call for Denmark. They were tied in points with Ukraine and Latvia and all 3 teams had 12 points each so Denmark only made it on a tie breaker!

It's sad to see Slovakia go, but it's nice to see the other countries progressing. The 2014 Olympics could be very different

 

[12# Peter Bondra]

And without success at the juniors, how much longer will Slovakia manage to stay up in the top men's division?

Depends on who comes from the NHL. It ALL depends on that really but even without NHL players we wouldnt fall to the B category in a very long time. We may suck at the U20 level but not at the men's level.

 

[Garl]

And without success at the juniors, how much longer will Slovakia manage to stay up in the top men's division?

Funny thing is that even from this Slovakian team some players would become good NHL-ers.

Slovakia hasn't been very deep in any time.

Now they have enough talent to compete for medals in WC and OG.

Hossa brothers, Nagy, Svatos, Meszaros, Radivoevic, Gaborik, Kolnik, Mezei, Ruzicka, Valabik, Mihalik, Valach, Baranka, Malec, Jurcina, Budaj, Halak, Marcinko, Kopecky, Lascek, Sekera, Zagrapan.

They all are still young.

 

[Jazz]

And without success at the juniors, how much longer will Slovakia manage to stay up in the top men's division?

Depends on who comes from the NHL. It ALL depends on that really but even without NHL players we wouldnt fall to the B category in a very long time. We may suck at the U20 level but not at the men's level.

Yes, I agree with this. Slovakia's senior team is safe for the time being.

Perhaps some of the current star players will help with the situation. Gaborik is currently funding a rink (MG Rink) in Trencin, and that is a start.

http://www.mariangaborik.sk/ubytovanie_en.htm

 

[Kaktus*]

Funny thing is that even from this Slovakian team some players would become good NHL-ers.

Slovakia hasn't been very deep in any time.

Now they have enough talent to compete for medals in WC and OG.

Hossa brothers, Nagy, Svatos, Meszaros, Radivoevic, Gaborik, Kolnik, Mezei, Ruzicka, Valabik, Mihalik, Valach, Baranka, Malec, Jurcina, Budaj, Halak, Marcinko, Kopecky, Lascek, Sekera, Zagrapan.

They all are still young.

cough Chara cough..

 

[MOGiLNY]

Depends on who comes from the NHL. It ALL depends on that really but even without NHL players we wouldnt fall to the B category in a very long time. We may suck at the U20 level but not at the men's level.

Yeah, but if the Slovak men's team is not getting refiilled with upcoming players from the junior program, how much success can it have in the future?

Slovakia currently has about 22 NHLers and many of them are aging. By 2010 Olympics, Satan and Demitra will both be 36 years old, Chara will be 33, Hossa 31, Gaborik 28 and Handzus 33..

If there are no adequate replacements for these guys, I don't know how much longer we'll see Slovakia at the top level although I hope I'm wrong..

 

[MOGiLNY]

Yes, I agree with this. Slovakia's senior team is safe for the time being.

Perhaps some of the current star players will help with the situation. Gaborik is currently funding a rink (MG Rink) in Trencin, and that is a start.

http://www.mariangaborik.sk/ubytovanie_en.htm

True.. I think Svehla is somehow involved in Trencin as well

 

[Paxton Fettel]

Slovakia should be thanking the Czech Republic for their good senior players

because Slovakia does absolutely nothing for its own players. nothing.