Official statement from the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation:
Did the SZĽH issue a ban on calling up players who play abroad to youth national teams?
The SZĽH (Slovak Ice Hockey Federation) has not issued any such ban. Any player with a Slovak passport and the necessary athletic ability to handle the demands of international competition can represent Slovakia. For players aged 14 and 15, their performance is evaluated by SZĽH regional instructors, who also serve as coaches for the under-15 category. Each season, the federation organizes a series of "AAA" tournaments to scout around 300 players from each birth year. After these tournaments, the best players are nominated for one-day training camps at the regional level for the under-15 team. From these camps, the coaching staff selects a broader group of players from domestic leagues for the newly forming under-16 national team.
Why do domestic players dominate the under-16 national team?
They go through a scouting process, as described above, and the coaching staff of the under-16 team is most familiar with them. In the past, there have been cases where 15- and 16-year-old players from abroad joined youth national teams but were not adequately prepared. They lacked sufficient playing time abroad and, compared to players in domestic leagues, lagged behind in performance. While countries like Sweden, Finland, or the Czech Republic, where Slovak players often go at a young age, have high-quality youth leagues and development programs, it doesn’t mean every Slovak player abroad is automatically better than their peers who play regularly in Slovak youth leagues.
Can young Slovak players abroad join Slovak youth national teams?
Yes, if they meet the necessary criteria and are patient, they will receive an invitation to Slovak youth national teams. Just because a 15-year-old excels in a Finnish under-16 league doesn’t mean they are automatically a generational talent. Some players born in 2009 are already established in the Slovak U18 Extraliga, and some even in the U20 Extraliga, which are two levels above their age category. Therefore, it’s challenging to predict how a 15-year-old’s career will develop. At that age, young Europeans—whether Slovak, Czech, Finnish, or Swedish—are on an equal starting line. It’s up to them and their parents to choose their path and see how far they can go through hard work and dedication.
How does the SZĽH view the departure of young players abroad, and what steps is it taking to reduce it?
The SZĽH does not prevent anyone from developing their hockey skills abroad. Naturally, it seeks to retain as many potential national team players as possible within the domestic system. Starting at age 15, it offers several alternatives within the domestic hockey path. This includes the centralized preparation program for players under 18, with opportunities to play men’s hockey (TIPOS SHL) and excellent facilities and care in Piešťany, or support for university hockey. Several players who chose the path abroad, like Slafkovský, Dvorský, Kňažko, and others, were regular members of youth national teams. The federation doesn’t close the door to anyone. If young Slovaks abroad meet the necessary sporting criteria and are patient, they will be invited. If the parents of minor players decide to transfer them to another country’s national team, it’s their choice, and we wish them luck. However, it’s sad that they can’t wait a year for their children to join the youth national teams, which suggests a lack of Slovak spirit. The SZĽH has extended a helping hand to anyone interested and has cooperated in obtaining Slovak citizenship, as seen with players like Patryk Zubek (born in Poland), Lucas Novak (born in Canada), and Mikey Tkac (born in the USA). Today, all three are part of the centralized under-18 preparation program. While Slovak hockey may lose two potential players, it has gained three others. SZĽH plans to release educational materials in the near future to help young players and their parents decide on their future.
He has yet to make an appearance for the Slovak national team, although the coaches for the 2009 age group have already tried over 70 players. So far, they haven’t invited anyone from abroad and are only developing players from domestic competitions...
