Slovenia men's national ice hockey team

The Slovenian men's national ice hockey team is controlled by the Ice Hockey Federation of Slovenia. The team is currently ranked 18th in the world by the International Ice Hockey Federation as of the 2019 IIHF World Ranking. Their best record is 13th place at the Ice Hockey World Championships, while their highest IIHF ranking is 12th place.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

Slovenia
Shirt badge/Association crest
The official logo of the Ice Hockey Federation of Slovenia.
Nickname(s)Risi (The Lynx)
AssociationIce Hockey Federation of Slovenia
Head coachMatjaž Kopitar
AssistantsKari Savolainen
CaptainAnže Kopitar
Most gamesTomaž Razingar (212)
Most pointsTomaž Vnuk (171)
Team colors     
IIHF codeSLO
Slovenia national hockey team jerseys 2015.png
Ranking
Current IIHF20 Decrease 2 (24 April 2020)[1]
Highest IIHF12 (2014)
Lowest IIHF19 (2010)
First international
Austria  1–0  Slovenia
(Klagenfurt, Austria; 20 March 1992)
Biggest win
Slovenia  29–0  South Africa
(Ljubljana, Slovenia; 15 March 1993)
Biggest defeat
Finland  12–0  Slovenia
(Tampere, Finland; 28 April 2003)
IIHF World Championships
Appearances27 (first in 2002)
Best result13th (2002 and 2005)
Olympics
Appearances2 (first in 2014)

Six players from Slovenia have been drafted into the NHL since 1998; Anže Kopitar and Jan Muršak have played in the league.[9]

HistoryEdit

 
Slovenian players at the 2008 World Championship, where they finished fifteenth.

As a member of Yugoslavia, Slovenia had been a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) since 1939 and participated in several World Championships and five Winter Olympics. Many of the players on the Yugoslav national team came from Slovenia: from 1939, when Yugoslavia first played a World Championship, to 1991 when it was broken up, 91% of all players on the national team were Slovene, and the entire roster for the team at the 1984 Winter Olympics, held in the Yugoslav city of Sarajevo were from Slovenia.[10]

Slovenia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, and joined the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) in 1992 along with Croatia and several former Soviet republics. They first played as an independent nation at the 1993 World Championship, hosting the Group C tournament, the lowest tier.[11] They reached the elite division for the first time in 2002 IIHF World Championship. They played at their first Winter Olympics at the 2014 Sochi Games.[12]

Tournament recordEdit

Olympic GamesEdit

Year Round Position GP W OW OL L GS GA
1964–1984 Part of Yugoslavia
  1992 Did not enter
  1994
  1998 Did not qualify
  2002
  2006
  2010
  2014 Quarter-finals 7th 5 2 0 0 3 10 16
  2018 Playoffs 9th 4 0 2 1 1 9 14
  2022 To be determined
Total 2/7 0 Titles 9 2 2 1 4 19 30

World ChampionshipEdit

Championship GP W OW T OL L GF GA Coach Captain Finish Rank
1920 – 1992 Part of Yugoslavia
    1993 Zagreb and Ljubljana, Pool C 2 2 0 0 0 0 22 3 Rudi Hiti 5th in Pool C 25th
  1994 Poprad and Spišská Nová Ves, Pool C 6 2 0 0 0 4 26 27 Rudi Hiti 5th in Pool C 25th
  1995 Sofia, Pool C 4 2 0 0 0 2 28 15 Rudi Hiti 7th in Pool C 27th
  1996 Jesenice and Kranj, Pool C 7 5 0 2 0 1 41 19   Vladimir Krikunov 3rd in Pool C 22nd
  1997 Tallinn and Kohtla-Järve, Pool C 6 3 0 2 0 1 27 11 Pavle Kavčič 2nd in Pool C 22nd
  1998 Ljubljana and Jesenice, Pool B 7 5 0 1 0 1 28 15 Pavle Kavčič 2nd in Pool B 18th
  1999 Odense and Rodovre, Pool B 7 2 0 1 0 4 14 17 Pavle Kavčič 5th in Pool B 21st
  2000 Katowice and Krakow, Pool B 7 0 0 2 0 5 16 31 Rudi Hiti 7th in Pool B 23rd
  2001 Ljubljana, Division IB 5 4 0 1 0 0 44 6 Matjaž Sekelj Winner, Promoted 17th
  2002 Gothenburg, Karlstad, Jönköping 6 3 0 0 0 3 18 26 Matjaž Sekelj Consolation Round 13th
  2003 Helsinki, Tampere, Turku 6 0 0 1 0 5 12 37 Matjaž Sekelj Consolation Round 15th
  2004 Gdańsk, Division IB 5 5 0 0 0 0 33 5   Kari Savolainen Winner, Promoted 17th
  2005 Vienna, Innsbruck 6 2 0 0 0 4 12 32   Kari Savolainen Relegation round 13th
  2006 Riga 6 0 0 2 0 4 14 26   František Výborný Relegation round 16th
  2007 Ljubljana, Division IB 5 5 0 – 0 0 29 5   Ted Sator Marcel Rodman Winner, Promoted 17th
  2008 Quebec City, Halifax 5 0 0 – 0 5 6 22   Mats Waltin Relegation Round 15th
  2009 Vilnius, Division IA 5 4 0 – 0 1 21 7   John Harrington Promoted, 2nd 19th
  2010 Ljubljana, Division IB 5 4 1 – 0 0 29 10   John Harrington Tomaž Razingar Winner, Promoted 18th
  2011 Bratislava, Košice 6 1 0 – 1 4 15 24 Matjaž Kopitar Tomaž Razingar Relegation round 16th
  2012 Ljubljana, Division IA 5 5 0 – 0 0 17 9 Matjaž Kopitar Tomaž Razingar Winner, Promoted 17th
    2013 Stockholm, Helsinki 7 0 0 – 2 5 12 27 Matjaž Kopitar Tomaž Razingar Group stage 16th
  2014 Goyang, Division IA 5 4 0 – 0 1 15 6 Matjaž Kopitar Tomaž Razingar Winner, Promoted 17th
  2015 Prague, Ostrava 7 1 0 – 0 6 9 22 Matjaž Kopitar Tomaž Razingar Group stage 16th
  2016 Katowice, Division IA 5 4 0 – 0 1 18 8 Nik Zupančič Jan Urbas Winner, Promoted 17th
    2017 Cologne, Paris 7 0 0 – 1 6 13 36 Nik Zupančič Jan Muršak Group stage 15th
  2018 Budapest, Division IA 5 2 0 – 0 3 15 15 Kari Savolainen Jan Urbas 5th in Division IA 21st
  2019 Nur-Sultan, Division IA 5 2 0 – 0 3 21 12 Ivo Jan Anže Kopitar 4th in Division IA 20th
  2020 Ljubljana, Division IA Cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic[13]
  2021 Ljubljana, Division IA

TeamEdit

Current rosterEdit

The following is the Slovenian roster for the men's ice hockey tournament at the 2018 Winter Olympics.[14]

Head coach:   Kari Savolainen     Assistant coaches:   Nik Zupančič,   Edo Terglav

No. Pos. Name Height Weight Birthdate Birthplace 2017–18 team
8 F Žiga Jeglič 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 80 kg (180 lb) 24 February 1988 Kranj, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia   Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (KHL)
12 F David Rodman 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 83 kg (183 lb) 10 September 1983 Jesenice, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia   Brûleurs de Loups (Ligue Magnus)
14 D Matic Podlipnik 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 9 August 1992 Jesenice   Energie Karlovy Vary (WSM Liga)
15 D Blaž Gregorc 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 94 kg (207 lb) 18 January 1990 Jesenice, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia   Mountfield HK (ELH)
16 F Aleš Mušič 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) 83 kg (183 lb) 28 June 1982 Ljubljana, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia   Alba Volán Székesfehérvár (EBEL)
17 D Žiga Pavlin 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 30 April 1985 Kranj, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia   Motor České Budějovice (WSM Liga)
18 F Ken Ograjenšek 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) 82 kg (181 lb) 30 August 1991 Celje   Graz 99ers (EBEL)
19 F Žiga Pance 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 92 kg (203 lb) 1 January 1989 Ljubljana, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia   Dornbirner EC (EBEL)
22 F Marcel Rodman 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 25 September 1981 Jesenice, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia   EC Bad Tolz (Oberliga)
23 D Luka Vidmar 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 90 kg (200 lb) 17 May 1986 Ljubljana, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia   Alba Volán Székesfehérvár (EBEL)
24 F Rok Tičar – A 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 83 kg (183 lb) 3 May 1989 Jesenice, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia   Sibir Novosibirsk (KHL)
26 F Jan Urbas 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 26 January 1989 Ljubljana, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia   Fischtown Pinguins (DEL)
28 D Aleš Kranjc 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) 92 kg (203 lb) 29 July 1983 Jesenice, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia   ETC Crimmitschau (DEL2)
32 G Gašper Krošelj 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 9 February 1987 Ljubljana, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia   Rødovre Mighty Bulls (Metal Ligaen)
39 F Jan Muršak – C 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 84 kg (185 lb) 20 January 1988 Maribor, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia   Frolunda HC (SHL)
40 G Luka Gračnar 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) 83 kg (183 lb) 31 October 1993 Jesenice   EC Red Bull Salzburg (EBEL)
51 D Mitja Robar – A 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 4 January 1983 Maribor, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia   EC KAC (EBEL)
55 F Robert Sabolič 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 90 kg (200 lb) 18 September 1988 Jesenice, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia   Torpedo Nizhni Novgorod (KHL)
61 D Jurij Repe 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 17 September 1994 Kranj   Rytiri Kladno (WSM Liga)
69 G Matija Pintarič 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) 83 kg (183 lb) 11 August 1989 Maribor, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia   Rouen Dragons (Ligue Magnus)
71 F Boštjan Goličič 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 89 kg (196 lb) 12 June 1989 Kranj, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia   Brûleurs de Loups (Ligue Magnus)
84 F Andrej Hebar 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 83 kg (183 lb) 7 September 1984 Ljubljana, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia   Olimpija (AlpsHL)
86 D Sabahudin Kovačević 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 26 February 1986 Jesenice, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia   Energie Karlovy Vary (WSM Liga)
91 F Miha Verlič 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 21 August 1991 Maribor   EC VSV (EBEL)
92 F Anže Kuralt 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 31 October 1991 Kranj   Gothiques d'Amiens (Ligue Magnus)

Coaching historyEdit

 
Slovenia (in white), shakes hands with Russia at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

NHL Entry DraftEdit

Players from Slovenia selected in the NHL Entry Draft

Year Name Overall Team
1998 Edo Terglav 249th overall Buffalo Sabres
2000 Jure Penko 203rd overall Nashville Predators
2001 Marcel Rodman 282nd overall Boston Bruins
2005 Anže Kopitar 11th overall Los Angeles Kings
2006 Jan Muršak 182nd overall Detroit Red Wings
2017 Jan Drozg 152nd overall Pittsburgh Penguins

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ "IIHF Men's World Ranking". IIHF. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  2. ^ Greg Wyshynski (18 February 2014). "Slovenia's miracle on ice continues; Swedes up next for 'Slovenderella'". Yahoo!. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  3. ^ "Slovenia hockey becoming feel-good story of 2014 Winter Olympic ice hockey with quarter-final berth | The National". The National. Abu Dhabi. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  4. ^ "Slovenia's ice hockey team secure Olympic berth". Sloveniatimes.com. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  5. ^ "Devoted Coach and Gifted Son Lead Slovenia to Hockey Heights". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  6. ^ "Ice hockey: Slovenia extend magical run into quarters | SBS News". Sbs.com.au. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  7. ^ "STA: Slovenia's ice hockey team secure Olympic berth". English.sta.si. 4 September 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  8. ^ "News". Slovenia.si. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  9. ^ Mitja Lisjak (24 June 2017). "Po 11 letih na naboru Lige NHL spet izbran Slovenec" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  10. ^ Manninen, Henrik (4 February 2014). "A Slovenian send-off". IIHF.com. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  11. ^ IIHF (2008). "Breakup of old Europe creates a new hockey world". IIHF.com. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  12. ^ "Sochi: Slovenian Hockey Team Making History". Slovenia Times. SloveniaTimes.com. 6 February 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  13. ^ "IIHF cancels Division I tournaments". iihf.com. 17 March 2019.
  14. ^ "Slovenia's selection". IIHF. 20 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.

External linksEdit

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