When CSFR divided, the successor's rights to membership in A group of the Ice Hockey World Charnpionship devolved to the Czech Republic and the Slovak representation had to struggle for return to the Ice hockey prime. After winning in C group at the World Championship 1994 in England, Slovakia won in B group in Bratislava an year later and we progressed to the worlďs elite. The 6th place at the Winter Olympic Games in Lillehamer was a good start, but the Slovak ice hockey waited till 2000 for better placement at the top hockey championship. The first great success was the silver medal at the World Championship in St. Petersburg and the Slovak ice hockey fastened on the farnous Czechoslovak hockey traditions. Heroes from Goteborg - Šatan, Bondra, Laššák - ranked to the gallery of celebrities like Troják, Buckna, Starší, Golonka, Dzurilla and Šťastný brothers.
The contrast between the feat of the Slovak representation at the Winter Olympic Garnes in Salt Lake City and the feat it managed few years later at the World Charnpionship, confirms statement about the fickle sports fortune. A real professionalism, fighting spirit and sport heart celebrated triumph.
Slovak ice hockey has difficult task to prove it is as good as in Sweden. The base of future successes is being laid on Slovak ice.

Peter Osuský