In early August, the Slovak Ice Hockey Association voted to reverse its policy and allow KHL players to play for the national team. That decision has opened the door for several previously unavailable players at the upcoming Olympic qualifying tournament in Bratislava. However, it could also cost Slovakia the services of at least one NHL player who disagrees with that decision.
“I was surprised by the news,” Calgary Flames center Martin Pospíšil said in an interview with Slovak media outlet Denník Šport. “We’ll see how it all develops. It’s hard for me to comment on that because I found out everything just a little while ago. I have to process that information first. In the next few days, I will decide whether I will represent the team.”
UPDATE: Martin Pospíšil has made his decision:
Pospíšil is one of 13 players already named to the team. Others so far include NHLers Tomáš Tatar, Šimon Nemec, Martin Feherváry, Patrik Koch, Miloš Keleman and Pavol Regenda and KHLers Mário Grman and Martin Gernát. Other KHLers that might also get named include goaltender Patrik Rybár, defenseman Christián Jaroš and forwards Tomáš Jurčo and Adam Ružička. The last time KHLers played for the Slovak national team was at the 2022 Winter Olympics, when they won the bronze medal. Like several other European nations, Slovakia has declined to select KHL players to the last three IIHF World Championships since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The KHL and many of its member clubs have demonstratively supported the Russian military action.
“I am a person who has moral principles that I can’t easily compromise,” Pospíšil elaborated after confirming that the inclusion of KHL players might affect his decision on whether to play.
“It’s a difficult situation as I can fulfill my dream of playing with my brother, he said, referring to 28-year-old left winger Kristian Pospíšil, who plays in the Czech Extraliga and has also played for the Slovak national team in the past, but never with Martin.
“It is still an honor for me to wear the national team jersey, but sometimes one has to put sports aside,” said the 24-year-old, who had seven points in seven games for Slovakia at the 2024 IIHF World Championship.
Slovakia is hosting one of three four-team qualifying groups from August 28 to September 1. The Slovaks will be heavy favorites to win the group against Austria, Kazakhstan and Hungary and qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The Kazakh team will be largely composed of KHL players, which Pospíšil is aware of.
“I will definitely talk to several people closest to me – I am interested in their opinions on this situation,” he said.
“I’m sorry, but after my career I would like to live here and raise children,” he reasoned. “That’s why I’m thinking about how I behave now, because with my attitude I can also influence the future youth. I love hockey and the national team, but at the moment it’s difficult.”
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