The Slovaks entered the semifinal as underdogs and were unable to defy the odds, as Team USA applied relentless pressure from the outset and closed the first period with a two-goal lead. The Americans did not ease off in the middle frame, and although Slovakia struck twice late – through Juraj Slafkovsky and Pavol Regenda – the goals were not enough to swing the momentum back in their favor, with Team USA qualifying for the gold medal game against Team Canada with a 6-2 final score.
Olympics Not Over Yet
As disappointing as the semifinals were for Team Slovakia, the tournament is not over yet, as there is still a medal up for grabs in tomorrow’s game against Team Finland. The Slovaks battled hard against the Americans but ultimately paid the price for their opponents’ superior depth and overall quality. Vladimir Orszagh’s men were unable to withstand sustained U.S. pressure or turn the tide, also due to a lack of discipline that had not been an issue earlier in the tournament.
Tomorrow’s game will be another test for the Slovaks, who will be fighting for bronze again after the 2022 tournament in China. Slovakia already defeated Team Finland in the round robin stage and will now have another opportunity to do so, having shown they can compete on equal terms with a full NHL lineup.
Depth an Issue for the Slovaks
It can now be argued that Slovakia may have slightly overperformed in this tournament. The team deserves considerable credit for its level of play and work ethic — matching, and at times even exceeding, that of other nations — but its limitations became apparent against deeper, more stacked opponents such as Sweden and, once again, Team USA. Slovakia does boast some exceptional individual talent, yet further progress will depend on strengthening the development system and consistently producing players at a higher volume and level.
Related: Guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics Men’s Hockey Tournament
Juraj Slafkovsky, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Simon Nemec are all exceptional players, but their impact was not enough when the level of competition rose. Slovakia relied on experience on the blue line from Erik Cernak and Martin Fehervary, yet once again it proved insufficient to contain the Americans, who were not only highly skilled but also extremely well organized, committing just a single major error — on Slafkovsky’s goal in the third period. The Slovaks functioned as a true team, but ultimately lacked top-end quality and depth, shortcomings that cannot be addressed overnight.
Despite the Loss, Future Is Bright for Slovakia
Despite what was said earlier, there is also good news for Slovakia. The core of the team is extremely young: Slafkovsky, Dvorsky, and Nemec are barely 20 years old, while Cernak and Fehervary are just entering their prime at 28 and 26, respectively. Goaltender Samuel Hlavaj also enjoyed an excellent tournament at 25 and has certainly earned a look from the Minnesota Wild, having yet to make his NHL debut despite outperforming NHL opposition in at least two games.
The Slovaks also have some intriguing talent coming through the pipeline, such as 2026 eligible Tomas Chrenko and the Chicago Blackhawks’ prospect duo of goalie Adam Gajan and forward Martin Misiak. Another name to watch is Adam Nemec — Simon’s brother — who now plays for the Sudbury Wolves in the Ontario Hockey League. If Slovakia can add a few more players of this calibre, and considering the continued progress of skaters like Pavol Regenda, it would not be surprising to see them battling for a medal again at the 2030 tournament in France. “I like being the underdog so you can surprise people,” Slafkovsky told the press before the semifinal game. That mindset may well prove true again in tomorrow’s game — and perhaps in four years’ time as well.
The bronze medal game between Team Slovakia and Team Finland is scheduled for tomorrow, Feb. 21, at 2:40 p.m. (ET).
