Slovenia men's national ice hockey team

Slovenia
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Risi (The Lynx)
AssociationIce Hockey Federation of Slovenia
General managerDejan Kontrec
Head coachEdo Terglav
AssistantsGorazd Drinovec
Mitja Robar
Mitja Šivic
CaptainRobert Sabolič
Most gamesTomaž Razingar (212)[1]
Most pointsTomaž Vnuk (171)[2]
Team colors     
IIHF codeSLO
Ranking
Current IIHF19 Decrease 2 (27 May 2024)[3]
Highest IIHF14 (2014–15)
Lowest IIHF20 (2020–21)
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)
Olympics
Appearances2 (first in 2014)
IIHF World Championships
Appearances30 (first in 1993)
Best result13th (2002 and 2005)

The Slovenia men's national ice hockey team is the ice hockey team representing Slovenia internationally. It is governed by the Ice Hockey Federation of Slovenia. As of May 2024, Slovenia is ranked 19th in the world by the IIHF World Ranking. The team's biggest success is reaching the quarter-finals at the 2014 Winter Olympics.[4] Their best record at the Ice Hockey World Championships is 13th place, achieved in 2002 and 2005.[5]

Seven players from Slovenia have been drafted into the National Hockey League (NHL) since 1998; Anže Kopitar and Jan Muršak have played in the league.[6]

History

Slovenian players at the 2008 World Championship

Before Slovenia's independence, Slovenian hockey players played for the Yugoslavia national team. From 1939, when Yugoslavia took part in its first World Championship, to 1991, when the country disintegrated, 91% of all Yugoslav national team members were Slovenes, including the entire squad that represented Yugoslavia at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo.[7]

Slovenia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, and joined the International Ice Hockey Federation the following year.[8] They first played as an independent nation at the 1993 World Championship, hosting the Group C tournament, the lowest tier.[9] They played in the elite division for the first time in 2002,[10] and at their first Winter Olympics in 2014.[11]

Tournament record

Olympic Games

Year Round Position GP W OW OL L GS GA
1964–1991 Part of Yugoslavia
France 1992 Did not enter
Norway 1994
Japan 1998 Did not qualify
United States 2002
Italy 2006
Canada 2010
Russia 2014 Quarter-finals 7th 5 2 0 0 3 10 16
South Korea 2018 Playoffs 9th 4 0 2 1 1 9 14
China 2022 Did not qualify
Italy 2026
Total 0 Titles 9 2 2 1 4 19 30

World Championship

Key
Rise Promoted to higher division
Fall Relegated to lower division
Championship GP W OW T OL L GS GA Coach Captain Finish Rank
1920 – 1992 Part of Yugoslavia
Slovenia 1993 Bled and Ljubljana, Pool C 7 5 0 0 0 2 78 16 Slovenia Rudi Hiti 4th in Pool C 24th
Slovakia 1994 Poprad and Spišská Nová Ves, Pool C 6 2 0 0 0 4 26 27 Slovenia Rudi Hiti 5th in Pool C 25th
Bulgaria 1995 Sofia, Pool C 4 2 0 0 0 2 28 15 Slovenia Rudi Hiti 7th in Pool C 27th
Slovenia 1996 Jesenice and Kranj, Pool C 7 5 0 0 0 2 41 19 Russia Vladimir Krikunov 3rd in Pool C 23rd
Estonia 1997 Tallinn and Kohtla-Järve, Pool C 5 3 0 1 0 1 25 8 Slovenia Pavle Kavčič 2nd in Pool C 22nd
Slovenia 1998 Ljubljana and Jesenice, Pool B 7 5 0 1 0 1 28 15 Slovenia Pavle Kavčič 2nd in Pool B 18th
Denmark 1999 Odense and Rodovre, Pool B 7 2 0 1 0 4 14 17 Slovenia Pavle Kavčič 5th in Pool B 21st
Poland 2000 Katowice, Pool B 7 0 0 2 0 5 16 31 Slovenia Rudi Hiti 7th in Pool B 23rd
Slovenia 2001 Ljubljana, Division IB 5 4 0 1 0 0 44 6 Slovenia Matjaž Sekelj Winners Rise 17th
Sweden 2002 Gothenburg, Karlstad, Jönköping 6 3 0 0 0 3 18 26 Slovenia Matjaž Sekelj Consolation round 13th
Finland 2003 Helsinki, Tampere, Turku 6 0 0 1 0 5 12 37 Slovenia Matjaž Sekelj Consolation round Fall 15th
Poland 2004 Gdańsk, Division IB 5 5 0 0 0 0 33 5 Finland Kari Savolainen Tomaž Vnuk Winners Rise 17th
Austria 2005 Vienna, Innsbruck 6 2 0 0 0 4 12 32 Finland Kari Savolainen Robert Ciglenečki Relegation round 13th
Latvia 2006 Riga 6 0 0 2 0 4 14 26 Czech Republic František Výborný Dejan Varl Relegation round Fall 16th
Slovenia 2007 Ljubljana, Division IB 5 5 0 — 0 0 29 5 United States Ted Sator Marcel Rodman Winners Rise 17th
Canada 2008 Quebec City, Halifax 5 0 0 — 1 4 6 22 Sweden Mats Waltin Marcel Rodman Relegation round Fall 15th
Lithuania 2009 Vilnius, Division IA 5 4 0 — 0 1 21 7 United States John Harrington Tomaž Razingar 2nd in Division IA 19th
Slovenia 2010 Ljubljana, Division IB 5 4 1 — 0 0 29 10 United States John Harrington Tomaž Razingar Winners Rise 18th
Slovakia 2011 Bratislava, Košice 6 1 0 — 1 4 15 24 Slovenia Matjaž Kopitar Tomaž Razingar Relegation round Fall 16th
Slovenia 2012 Ljubljana, Division IA 5 5 0 — 0 0 17 9 Slovenia Matjaž Kopitar Tomaž Razingar Winners Rise 17th
Sweden Finland 2013 Stockholm, Helsinki 7 0 0 — 2 5 12 27 Slovenia Matjaž Kopitar Tomaž Razingar Preliminary round Fall 16th
South Korea 2014 Goyang, Division IA 5 4 0 — 0 1 15 6 Slovenia Matjaž Kopitar Tomaž Razingar Winners Rise 17th
Czech Republic 2015 Prague, Ostrava 7 1 0 — 0 6 9 22 Slovenia Matjaž Kopitar Tomaž Razingar Preliminary round Fall 16th
Poland 2016 Katowice, Division IA 5 4 0 — 0 1 18 8 Slovenia Nik Zupančič Jan Urbas Winners Rise 17th
Germany France 2017 Cologne, Paris 7 0 0 — 1 6 13 36 Slovenia Nik Zupančič Jan Muršak Preliminary round Fall 15th
Hungary 2018 Budapest, Division IA 5 2 0 — 0 3 15 15 Finland Kari Savolainen Jan Urbas 5th in Division IA 21st
Kazakhstan 2019 Nur-Sultan, Division IA 5 2 0 — 0 3 21 12 Slovenia Ivo Jan Anže Kopitar 4th in Division IA 20th
Slovenia 2020 Ljubljana, Division IA Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[12]
Slovenia 2021 Ljubljana, Division IA Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[13]
Slovenia 2022 Ljubljana, Division IA 4 4 0 — 0 0 22 5 Slovenia Matjaž Kopitar Mitja Robar Winners Rise 17th
Finland Latvia 2023 Tampere, Riga 7 0 0 — 0 7 9 27 Slovenia Matjaž Kopitar Jan Urbas Preliminary round Fall 16th
Italy 2024 Bolzano, Division IA 5 3 0 — 0 2 14 8 Slovenia Edo Terglav Robert Sabolič 2nd in Division IA Rise 18th
Sweden Denmark 2025 Stockholm, Herning

Team

Current roster

Roster for the 2023 IIHF World Championship.[14][15]

Head coach: Matjaž Kopitar

No. Pos. Name Height Weight Birthdate Team
4 D Aleksandar Magovac 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) 88 kg (194 lb) (1991-02-09) 9 February 1991 (age 33) Slovenia HK Olimpija
6 D Miha Štebih 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 92 kg (203 lb) (1992-04-07) 7 April 1992 (age 32) France Nice hockey Côte d'Azur
8 F Žiga Jeglič 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 80 kg (180 lb) (1988-02-24) 24 February 1988 (age 36) Germany Fischtown Pinguins
12 F Nik Simšič 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) 90 kg (200 lb) (1997-03-12) 12 March 1997 (age 27) Slovenia HK Olimpija
14 D Matic Podlipnik 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) 83 kg (183 lb) (1992-08-09) 9 August 1992 (age 32) Germany Fischtown Pinguins
15 D Blaž Gregorc 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 95 kg (209 lb) (1990-01-18) 18 January 1990 (age 34) Germany Augsburger Panther
17 D Žiga Pavlin – A 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 97 kg (214 lb) (1985-04-30) 30 April 1985 (age 39) Italy HC Pustertal Wölfe
18 F Ken Ograjenšek 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) 75 kg (165 lb) (1991-08-30) 30 August 1991 (age 33) Austria Graz 99ers
19 F Žiga Pance 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 89 kg (196 lb) (1989-01-01) 1 January 1989 (age 35) Slovenia HK Olimpija
21 F Jan Drozg 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 82 kg (181 lb) (1999-04-01) 1 April 1999 (age 25) Russia Amur Khabarovsk
24 F Rok Tičar – A 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 82 kg (181 lb) (1989-05-03) 3 May 1989 (age 35) Austria EC KAC
26 F Jan Urbas – C 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 98 kg (216 lb) (1989-01-26) 26 January 1989 (age 35) Germany Fischtown Pinguins
32 G Gašper Krošelj 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 86 kg (190 lb) (1987-02-09) 9 February 1987 (age 37) Czech Republic BK Mladá Boleslav
33 G Žan Us 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) 78 kg (172 lb) (1996-06-10) 10 June 1996 (age 28) Slovenia HK Olimpija
35 G Luka Gračnar 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) 83 kg (183 lb) (1993-10-31) 31 October 1993 (age 31) Germany EV Landshut
44 D Aljoša Crnovič 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 85 kg (187 lb) (1999-04-16) 16 April 1999 (age 25) Slovenia HK Olimpija
45 F Luka Maver 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 87 kg (192 lb) (1997-10-25) 25 October 1997 (age 27) Austria Pioneers Vorarlberg
55 F Robert Sabolič 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 90 kg (200 lb) (1988-09-18) 18 September 1988 (age 36) Austria EC VSV
76 D Kristjan Čepon 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 100 kg (220 lb) (1995-11-12) 12 November 1995 (age 28) Slovenia HK Olimpija
81 F Tadej Čimžar 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 80 kg (180 lb) (1992-04-21) 21 April 1992 (age 32) Slovenia HK Olimpija
88 F Miha Zajc 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 90 kg (200 lb) (1996-12-08) 8 December 1996 (age 27) Slovenia HK Olimpija
91 F Miha Verlič 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 85 kg (187 lb) (1991-08-21) 21 August 1991 (age 33) Germany Fischtown Pinguins
92 F Anže Kuralt 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) 80 kg (180 lb) (1991-10-31) 31 October 1991 (age 33) Hungary Fehérvár AV19
96 D Bine Mašič 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) 75 kg (165 lb) (2002-11-14) 14 November 2002 (age 21) Finland Vaasan Sport
98 F Blaž Tomaževič 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 75 kg (165 lb) (1997-10-14) 14 October 1997 (age 27) Austria EC VSV

Coaching history

NHL Entry Draft

Two-time NHL champion Anže Kopitar at the 2008 World Championship

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
2024 Jan Goličič 118th overall Tampa Bay Lightning

References

  1. ^ "Rekorder Tomaž Razingar se vrača v reprezentanco" (in Slovenian). Siol. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  2. ^ Mavrič, Petra (15 May 2016). "Uspehi, s katerimi so nas od osamosvojitve razvajali slovenski hokejisti" (in Slovenian). Siol. Retrieved 13 May 2022. Največ točk v dresu Slovenije je dosegel Tomaž Vnuk, 171.
  3. ^ "IIHF Men's World Ranking". IIHF. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  4. ^ Gruden, Toni (26 February 2014). "Risi v Sočiju - največji uspeh slovenskih reprezentanc" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Hokejski palček, ki kljubuje zakonitostim" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. 25 April 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Jan Goličič je postal sedmi Slovenec, izbran na naboru lige NHL" (in Slovenian). Siol. 29 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  7. ^ Manninen, Henrik (4 February 2014). "A Slovenian send-off". IIHF. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  8. ^ "IIHF Member National Association Slovenia". IIHF. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Breakup of old Europe creates a new hockey world". IIHF. 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  10. ^ Mavrič, Petra (21 April 2021). "20 let od sanjskega večera, ko Golica kar ni nehala doneti" (in Slovenian). Siol. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  11. ^ Uroševič, Siniša (19 December 2013). "Slovenski hokejisti prvič po Sarajevu vrnili plošček na OI". Delo (in Slovenian). Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  12. ^ Steiss, Adam (17 March 2020). "IIHF cancels Division I tournaments". IIHF. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  13. ^ Steiss, Adam (18 November 2020). "IIHF Council announces more cancellations". IIHF. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Risi uspešno tudi čez prezadnjo pripravljalno preizkušnjo". hokej.si (in Slovenian). Ice Hockey Federation of Slovenia. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Team Roster Slovenia" (PDF). IIHF. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Kari Savolainen je novi selektor risov". hokej.si (in Slovenian). Ice Hockey Federation of Slovenia. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Zupančič sprejel izziv in postal novi selektor risov" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  18. ^ "Uradno: Ivo Jan je novi selektor hokejske reprezentance" (in Slovenian). Siol. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  19. ^ "Matjaž Kopitar bo novi slovenski hokejski selektor". Dnevnik (in Slovenian). 20 June 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Matjaž Kopitar ne bo več selektor risov" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. 27 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  21. ^ "Nazaj med svetovno elito bo skušal rise popeljati Edo Terglav" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
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