1.05.2014

Road to Sochi - Episode 7


Zdeno Chára lifted the Stanley Cup higher than it has ever been in NHL history. Now, him and Team Slovakia are going for a medal in Sochi, not just for their country but also for a teammate who tragically passed away.

September 7th 2011, the hockey team of Lokomotive Yaroslav is on their way to start their season in Minsk, Belarus when their plane collides with an atenna and crashes into a Wolga branch. Thirty-eight team members die, amongst them 3-time NHL All-Star and Lady Bing Trophy winner Pavol Demitra.

In the summer of 2011 Demitra played his last games for Slovakia, as Captain of the World Championship team in their home-country. He was overwelmed with emotion as 9.300 fans in Bratislava said goodbye to one of Slovakia's best hockey players all-time.


The Yarolavl air disaster shocked the hockey world and a whole country, thousands of people attended his memorial service in the Trencin Arena, where Demitra started his pro-career back in 1992. Slovak hockey greats like Marian Hossa, Marian Gaborik and Trencin native Zdeno Chara said goodbye to a big part of their national team and a good friend.

With their teammate back in mind the Slovaks played one of their best World Championships ever in 2012. In the quarterfinals they eliminated Team Canada 4-3, before beating their former sister state Czech Republic 3-1 in the semis. Besides two goals by Zdeno Chara in the final, Russia won the gold medal with a 6-2 victory. 


The team and Captain Z dedicated the silver medal to their former teammate Demitra. Chara was also named best defender of the tournament.

In Vancouver 2010 the Slovaks surprised everyone when they made it to the semis, losing 3-2 against gold-medal winning Team Canada. They finished the Olympics without a medal but certainly left a big footprint for the first time since the split of Czechslovakia. Pavol Demitra made the Olympic All-star team, scoring the most assists (7) and points (10) in the whole tournament.
A good defense and even better goaltending will be the keys to Slovakia's success at this years Olympics. 

Jaroslav Halak who started all games in Vancouver is more than likely to do the same for his country in Sochi. The Blues goalie had an outstanding 2011-12 season alongside Brian Elliot winning the  William M. Jennings Trophy. Back-up goalie Peter Budaj has certainly developed since the last Olympics as he's having a career high season so far with a GAA of 2.05 and a SV% of .923 in 10 games for Montréal.

6-foot-9 Zdeno Chara will help anyone who's paired with him, playing at the back end. Flyers Andrej Meszaros is favored for this spot as he has trouble positioning himself, in that case a guy like Chara at his side would defenitely help him. If he get's back from his concussion, 37-year old Lubomir Visnovsky should return to the line-up after retiring from the NT in 2011. If not Canes Andrej Sekera will likely get more ice-time trying to provide the same fire power as Visnovsky. Defensemen from Europe which could make the team include Dominik Granak (Dynamo Moskva), Ivan Baranka (Avangard Omsk), Michal Sersen (Slovan Bratislava), Kristián Kudroc (Sibir Novosibirsk) and Peter Podhradský (Donbass Donezk) all playing in the KHL. 


Similar to their defense, Slovaks offense is lead by their Veteran players such as the Hossa brothers Marián and Marcel (Dinamo Riga) and Michal Handzus. The 36-year old Center won his first Stanley Cup this spring alongside Marián Hossa (2nd Stanley Cup) on a strong Hawks team. Handzus was already part of the gold medal winning team at the World Championship in 2002. 

Jackets winger Marián Gaborík is expected back from his injury in late January, likely playing on the 2nd line for his national team. Wings teammates and namesakes Tatar and Jurco are representing the future alongside Bolt's Richard Pánik. Especially Tatar is playing a decent rookie season (15 points in 34 games) which could give him the chance to play alongside Gaborik on the 2nd line. Tomas Jurco who was called up to the NHL for the first time this season scored 2 goals in 7 games with the big club, beeing a key player for AHL affiliate Grand Rapid Griffins with 28 points in the same number of games.

19-year old Center Marko Dano, who just played at the World Juniors alongside Bruins prospect Peter Cehlarik, could also make the team if Coach Vladimir Vujtek want's to give some more young guys the chance to develope on the big stage. Same can be said for Canadiens prospect Martin Reway who finished the WJC with 10 points in 5 games. 


Panthers winger Tomas Kopecký adds even more experience to the Slovakian offense. Forwards from Europe that could make the team include 23-year old Libor Hudácek (Slovan Bratislava), Tomás Surový (Dinamo Minsk), Martin Cibak (Vityaz Podolsk) and high scoring Slovan wingers Michel Miklik (26 points in 36 games) and Captain Milan Bartovic (22 points in 36 games). 
Former Boston Bruin Miroslav Satan is still suffering from his injured and only played 5 games for Slovan this season which likely rules him out for the Olympic team.

The Slovaks biggest weapon is their team spirit, many guys playing for Slovaks own KHL club Slovan Bratislava will certainly help to create even more chemistry mixed with experienced NHL guys and upcoming forwards like Tatar and Jurco. This team may have more experience than any other team competing in this tournament and they want to give their old teammate the medal he would have deserved.
Satan,L. Hudacek, Zaborsky, Marcel Hossa, Surový, Miklík, Bartovic, Cibak
Satan,L. Hudacek, Zaborsky, Marcel Hossa, Surový, Miklík, Bartovic, Cibak
Satan,L. Hudacek, Zaborsky, Marcel Hossa, Surový, Miklík, Bartovic, Cibak

Keine Kommentare:

Kommentar veröffentlichen