On Saturday, the Slovaks played their last pre-tournament game prior to the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, losing 6-2 to the USA. On Sunday, they trimmed their roster down to 26 – that’s the number of players they’ll take to Ottawa, although 25 is the maximum number of players they can register in the tournament.

“There are four days left until the start of the World Championship,” head coach Ivan Feneš explained. “Anything can happen, so we’ve decided to keep one extra forward with us for now and we’ll react to any situation that may arise as needed.”

Slovakia started camp on Dec. 12 with 34 players. Defensemen Samuel Kupec and Adam Beluško and forward Andrej Párička were the last players cut before the team heads to Ottawa. Slovakia opens the tournament on Dec. 26 against Sweden.

Team captain Dalibor Dvorský played his last AHL game before joining the Slovak team on Sunday afternoon, as his Springfield Thunderbirds fell 3-1 to the Laval Rocket. On Sunday evening after the game, he is to be taken by car from Laval, Que. to Ottawa – a 190-km drive that should take about two hours.

“We will have an initial welcome and a short meeting with him,” said Feneš. “We will talk about the things we expect from him. He has played a lot of games in recent days, so first of all he will need to rest and regenerate well. However, Dalibor will still be our captain and leader.”

Goaltenders: Alan Lenďák, Michal Prádel, Samuel Urban.

Defensemen: Milan Pišoja, Jakub Chromiak, Peter Valent, Samuel Barcík, Tomáš Královič, Luka Radivojevič, Richard Baran, Maxim Štrbák (Buffalo Sabres).

Forwards: Matúš Vojtech, Tomáš Pobežal, Lukáš Klečka, Miroslav Šatan Jr. (Washington Capitals), Roman Kukumberg, František Dej, Adam Cedzo, Ján Chovan, Róbert Fedor, Tobias Pitka, Juraj Pekarčík (St. Louis Blues), Daniel Jenčko, Peter Císar, Tobias Tomík, Dalibor Dvorský (St. Louis).