Slovakia's Adam Nemec exults after opening the scoring in an 11-1 romp over Norway at the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship in Espoo, Finland.
photo: PHOTO: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDRE RINGUETTE
Slovakia woke up just in time.
After three straight preliminary-round defeats, coach Martin Dendis’ team exploded for five first-period goals and went on to hammer Norway 11-1 in Tuesday’s early game. Rounding out the group stage, the win vaults Slovakia into Thursday’s quarter-finals at the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship.
Tomas Pobezal, the Slovak captain, led the way with a four-goal performance. Jan Chovan scored twice and blueliner Luka Radivojevic chipped in three assists. Final shots favoured Slovakia 59-13 as goalie Alan Lendak earned an easy win.
Of facing either Czechia or Sweden in the quarter-finals, Radivojevic said: "We know they are good offensive teams and really good opponents. But we can't, like, hope for somebody. It's playoff time and we need to beat everybody."
Skating hard, the Slovaks looked dynamic and dialed-in. Norway was always a step behind. The game took a particularly unusual twist when the third period was relocated to the Metro Areena's practice rink due to ice issues.
The Norwegians, who were coming off a 5-3 win over Latvia, finish last in Group B and head sadly to the relegation game after a chance at history slipped through their fingers. They've never made the U18 Worlds quarter-finals. Last year, they had to beat Germany 6-1 and 3-2 in relegation play to finish ninth.
Of his team's struggles against Slovakia, Norwegian captain Ludvig Lafton said: "We gave them too many chances and they had a few too-easy goals. We didn't produce enough ourselves."
Knowing they needed to fill the net to advance on goal difference, the Slovaks attacked from the get-go and capitalized on Norway’s disorganization.
At 1:01, Adam Nemec opened the scoring, backhanding the rebound from Adam Pelushko’s point shot past Norwegian starter Markus Walberg. Nemec, 16, is the younger brother of New Jersey Devils defender Simon Nemec, the #2 overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
Just 58 seconds later, Michal Liscinsky exploited a Norwegian defensive zone turnover, circling into the high slot and unleashing a quick shot to double the Slovak lead.
Pobezal waltzed over the blue line on the left side and used retreating blueliner Marius Maattanen as a screen to fool Walberg for a 3-0 lead at 3:44.
"I think we started really well," Chovan said. "In the first five minutes, we were excellent. And then we just continued with that."
Norway finally struck back at 6:52 on its first power play. Forward Mikel Eriksen came in from the half-wall, grabbed a loose puck that squirted out of a goalmouth scrum, and shot it into the open near side.
Uncowed, the Slovaks restored their three-goal lead at 11:45. From the blue line, Nicolas Vrtiel found a pinching Fabian Licko in the right faceoff circle, and the HC Slovan Bratislava defender had time and space to load up a wrister that eluded Walberg.
Norwegian coach Kim Veisten decided to change things up and inserted Amund Martinensen between the pipes instead. However, the Slovaks stayed relentless.
At 13:10, a set faceoff play paid dividends. Miroslav Satan won the draw to Jan Chovan and he beat Martinsen in the twinkling of an eye to make it 5-1.
In the second period, Pobezal made it 6-1 at 7:11, powering off the side boards and outwitting four Norwegian defenders as he shoveled a backhander home.
Norway's hopes were as forlorn as a black metal concert in the rain, as the Slovaks kept on coming. Tomas Chrenko held the puck on a 2-on-1 and roofed it past Martinsen at 13:13. Just 1:43 later, Pobezal completed his hat trick with an easy rebound goal at 14:56.
"Tomas played really well today," Radivojevic said. "He's a leader and he proved it."
The third period rolled by quickly. When Vrtiel made it 9-1 at 8:32, that set a new record for the most goals ever scored by Slovakia in a U18 Worlds game. The previous high was eight, in 8-2 wins over Belarus in 2003 and Norway in 2004.
Pobezal and Chovan rounded out the scoring with power play goals in the final 10 minutes.
Looking ahead to the do-or-die relegation game, Lafton said: "We've just got to pick ourselves up. We have a new game to play."
Missing the quarter-finals would have marked a dramatic fall from grace for Slovakia. The Slovaks came fourth last year, their best finish in 20 years, with a 4-3 bronze-medal loss to Canada. The Central European nation has only medaled twice in U18 Worlds history (1999 bronze, 2003 silver).
Happily, the Slovaks now have a chance to completely rewrite the narrative about their 2004 tournament if they can advance to the semi-final for the second consecutive year.
After three straight preliminary-round defeats, coach Martin Dendis’ team exploded for five first-period goals and went on to hammer Norway 11-1 in Tuesday’s early game. Rounding out the group stage, the win vaults Slovakia into Thursday’s quarter-finals at the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship.
Tomas Pobezal, the Slovak captain, led the way with a four-goal performance. Jan Chovan scored twice and blueliner Luka Radivojevic chipped in three assists. Final shots favoured Slovakia 59-13 as goalie Alan Lendak earned an easy win.
Of facing either Czechia or Sweden in the quarter-finals, Radivojevic said: "We know they are good offensive teams and really good opponents. But we can't, like, hope for somebody. It's playoff time and we need to beat everybody."
Skating hard, the Slovaks looked dynamic and dialed-in. Norway was always a step behind. The game took a particularly unusual twist when the third period was relocated to the Metro Areena's practice rink due to ice issues.
The Norwegians, who were coming off a 5-3 win over Latvia, finish last in Group B and head sadly to the relegation game after a chance at history slipped through their fingers. They've never made the U18 Worlds quarter-finals. Last year, they had to beat Germany 6-1 and 3-2 in relegation play to finish ninth.
Of his team's struggles against Slovakia, Norwegian captain Ludvig Lafton said: "We gave them too many chances and they had a few too-easy goals. We didn't produce enough ourselves."
Knowing they needed to fill the net to advance on goal difference, the Slovaks attacked from the get-go and capitalized on Norway’s disorganization.
At 1:01, Adam Nemec opened the scoring, backhanding the rebound from Adam Pelushko’s point shot past Norwegian starter Markus Walberg. Nemec, 16, is the younger brother of New Jersey Devils defender Simon Nemec, the #2 overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
Just 58 seconds later, Michal Liscinsky exploited a Norwegian defensive zone turnover, circling into the high slot and unleashing a quick shot to double the Slovak lead.
Pobezal waltzed over the blue line on the left side and used retreating blueliner Marius Maattanen as a screen to fool Walberg for a 3-0 lead at 3:44.
"I think we started really well," Chovan said. "In the first five minutes, we were excellent. And then we just continued with that."
Norway finally struck back at 6:52 on its first power play. Forward Mikel Eriksen came in from the half-wall, grabbed a loose puck that squirted out of a goalmouth scrum, and shot it into the open near side.
Uncowed, the Slovaks restored their three-goal lead at 11:45. From the blue line, Nicolas Vrtiel found a pinching Fabian Licko in the right faceoff circle, and the HC Slovan Bratislava defender had time and space to load up a wrister that eluded Walberg.
Norwegian coach Kim Veisten decided to change things up and inserted Amund Martinensen between the pipes instead. However, the Slovaks stayed relentless.
At 13:10, a set faceoff play paid dividends. Miroslav Satan won the draw to Jan Chovan and he beat Martinsen in the twinkling of an eye to make it 5-1.
In the second period, Pobezal made it 6-1 at 7:11, powering off the side boards and outwitting four Norwegian defenders as he shoveled a backhander home.
Norway's hopes were as forlorn as a black metal concert in the rain, as the Slovaks kept on coming. Tomas Chrenko held the puck on a 2-on-1 and roofed it past Martinsen at 13:13. Just 1:43 later, Pobezal completed his hat trick with an easy rebound goal at 14:56.
"Tomas played really well today," Radivojevic said. "He's a leader and he proved it."
The third period rolled by quickly. When Vrtiel made it 9-1 at 8:32, that set a new record for the most goals ever scored by Slovakia in a U18 Worlds game. The previous high was eight, in 8-2 wins over Belarus in 2003 and Norway in 2004.
Pobezal and Chovan rounded out the scoring with power play goals in the final 10 minutes.
Looking ahead to the do-or-die relegation game, Lafton said: "We've just got to pick ourselves up. We have a new game to play."
Missing the quarter-finals would have marked a dramatic fall from grace for Slovakia. The Slovaks came fourth last year, their best finish in 20 years, with a 4-3 bronze-medal loss to Canada. The Central European nation has only medaled twice in U18 Worlds history (1999 bronze, 2003 silver).
Happily, the Slovaks now have a chance to completely rewrite the narrative about their 2004 tournament if they can advance to the semi-final for the second consecutive year.