Samuel Kňažko Added To Slovakia's 2026 Olympic Qualifying Roster

Samuel Kňažko Added To Slovakia's 2026 Olympic Qualifying Roster

Slovakia's GM Miroslav Šatan announced today that Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Samuel Kňažko has been chosen to represent his country during the 2026 Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The 22-year-old also helped Slovakia win a bronze medal in Beijing in the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, playing in 7 games. 

The tournament runs from August 29 to September 1 and will be hosted by Slovakia. Austria, Hungary, and Kazakhstan are joining them in the tournament, with the winner moving on to play in the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Italy.  

Kňažko played in 44 games for Cleveland last season. While part of a heavy rotation on defense for the Monsters, he scored 2 goals and 12 points. He also played in two of the Monsters playoff games, getting one assist. Those two games he played didn't come until games 2 & 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

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