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Post by DanCan on May 19, 2004 8:30:38 GMT -5
Slovakia's coach Jan Filc has nominated the following players:
Goaltenders Jan Lasak, HC Pardubice, CZE Ratislav Stana, Portland, AHL Peter Budaj, Hershey, AHL
Defence Lubomir Visnovsky, L. A. Kings Ratislav Suchy, Phoenix Coyotes Richard Lintner, Djurgaarden, SEL Branislav Mezei, Florida Panthers Ivan Majesky, Atlanta Trashers Martin Strbak, Pittsburgh Penguins Zdeno Chara, Ottawa Senators, Jaroslav Obsut, Manitoba, AHL
Forwards Lubos Bartecko, Sparta Prague, CZE Miroslav Satan, Buffalo Sabres Zigmund Palffy, L.A. Kings Jozef Stumpel, L. A. Kings Marian Gaborik, Minnesota Wild Ladislav Nagy, Phoenix Coyotes Marian Hossa, Ottawa Senators Peter Bondra, Ottawa Senators Michal Handzus, Philadelphia Flyers Radovan Somik, Philadelphia Flyers Branko Radivojevic, Philadelphia Flyers Pavol Demitra, St. Louis Blues Richard Zednik, Montreal Canadians Vladimir Orszagh, Nashville Predators Miroslav Hlinka. HC Zlin, CZE
source: hokej.sk
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Post by starrightwinger on May 19, 2004 14:07:15 GMT -5
Looks like a good team. Will we see Hossa & Chara & the rest of the team skating around the ACC with the World Cup hoisted over their heads in celebration?
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Post by Lukasz on May 19, 2004 14:58:18 GMT -5
Why Jan Filc is Slovakian coach if Frantisek Hossa sign new contract? He is coach only for one tournament?
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Post by Jazz on May 19, 2004 18:31:37 GMT -5
From Canadian New Services.
HOSSA, CHARA HEADLINE SLOVAKIA'S ROSTER
By PIERRE LeBRUN -- Canadian Press
If there's a team that enters the World Cup of Hockey with something to prove and the weapons to deliver, it's Slovakia.
The Slovaks released their roster Wednesday for the Aug. 30-Sept. 14 tournament, a lineup led by perhaps the most dangerous offensive arsenal in Marian Hossa and Peter Bondra of the Ottawa Senators, Ziggy Palffy of the Los Angeles Kings, Miro Satan of the Buffalo Sabres, Richard Zednik of the Montreal Canadiens, Marian Gaborik of the Minnesota Wild, Pavol Demitra of the St. Louis Blues and Michal Handzus of the Philadelphia Flyers.
The defence is anchored by Norris Trophy candidate Zdeno Chara of the Senators.
And they enter the NHL/NHLPA tournament with the memory of their mistreatment at the Salt Lake Olympics in 2002, when Slovakia was not among the six countries given automatic entry to the main tournament, having to qualify in the preliminary round.
With the NHL not taking its break until the main part of the Olympic round robin, the Slovaks suffered the indignity of having to play in the preliminary round without its NHL stars and with a half-empty bench as GM Peter Stastny frantically tried to convince individual NHL clubs to release players for selected games.
It was a disaster, an embarrassment to both the NHL and the Slovaks as they failed to advance.
Now they arrive at the World Cup with their full complement of NHL stars.
"We've all put the Salt Lake Olympics behind us," Chara said Wednesday on a conference call. "We can't do anything about it now. It's in the past.
"But this is something where we can prove to other people and to the world that we are a good enough team to compete with the best. And I think we proved that in the last four-five years at the world championship."
For Canadian hockey fans who ignore the annual International Ice Hockey Federation tournament, the Slovaks won silver in 2000, gold in 2002, bronze in 2003 and were fourth this year in Prague after losing a controversial semifinal to Canada.
They are currently third in the IIHF world rankings behind Canada and Sweden, a testimony to their rise in international hockey after splitting from the Czech Republic.
And they felt they had the best team in Prague before losing 2-1 to Canada in the semifinals. The Slovaks were furious that Canadian forward Rob Niedermayer wasn't penalized on the winning goal when he appeared to knock down netminder Jan Lasak behind the net. Shawn Horcoff had an open net for the winner.
"It was tough to swallow for sure," Chara said. "I think they all realized it was a mistake made by an official. But what is done is done. It was tough because we felt that we were the better team."
The opportunity for revenge arrives Sept. 1, when Slovakia plays Canada in a World Cup round-robin game at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
"When we play Canada again, we won't be looking at it as payback but obviously we'll want to win," Chara said.
Slovakia, which will hold its August training camp in Ottawa, was the fourth country to announce its World Cup roster following Canada, Sweden and Germany. The United States will release its roster Thursday while Russia goes Monday.
As impressive as the Slovaks are up front, there's not much else after Chara on defence. Richard Lintner (Djurgaarden, Sweden), Ivan Majesky (Atlanta Thrashers), Branislav Mezei (Florida Panthers), Jaroslav Obsut (Manitoba Moose), Martin Strbak (Pittsburgh Penguins), Radoslav Suchy (Phoenix Coyotes) and Lubomir Visnovsky (L.A. Kings) round out a very average blue-line.
But the biggest question mark is in goal, where Nashville Predators farm-hand Lasak is the No. 1 man. While he did lead the Slovaks to world championship gold in 2002, he hasn't been able to crack the Predators lineup and in fact was so frustrated with being buried in the AHL that he played the rest of this season in the Russian league.
Peter Budaj of the AHL's Hershey Bears (Colorado Avalanche) and Rastislav Stana of the Portland Pirates (Washington Capitals) round out the Slovak goaltending, which many will consider suspect.
"Maybe, people always try to find weaknesses," Chara said. "But we do have a good enough team to do well. Obviously we have some young goaltenders but we feel comfortable with them. They all play in North America and they know the style. They're getting better every year."
Rounding out the forwards are Lubomir Bartecko (Sparta Prague, Czech Republic), Miroslav Hlinka (HC Zlin, Czech Republic), Ladislav Nagy (Phoenix Coyotes), Vladimir Orszagh (Nashville Predators), Branko Radivojevic (Philadelphia Flyers), Radovan Somik (Philadelphia Flyers) and Jozef Stumpel (L.A. Kings).
The head coach is Frantisek Hossa, Marian's father.
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Post by starrightwinger on May 20, 2004 13:46:08 GMT -5
The head coach of the Slovakian team is Jan Filc not Hossa. Frantisek Hossa is an assistant coach.
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Post by TampaLightning on May 21, 2004 8:14:04 GMT -5
Slovakia is friggin' STACKED for the WC! Look out for them...
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aj
Prospect
Sophomore
All this talk about hockey just makes me miss playing.
Posts: 166
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Post by aj on May 21, 2004 8:38:50 GMT -5
They're extremely dangerous offensively, but their defense and goaltending might let them down.
I hope they do well, though, after having a bit of bad luck at the World Champs.
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Post by body-czech on May 21, 2004 10:40:38 GMT -5
Slovakia is my black horse of the World Cup. ;D ;D ;D
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HKP
Prospect
Rookie
Tiki
Posts: 16
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Post by HKP on May 21, 2004 10:54:22 GMT -5
It will be interesting to see can Slovakia answer to physical play in small rink. One weaknes may be that Slovakia don`t have really good defensive minded and physical forwards.
But of course they have team full of scary offensive players ;D
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Post by SlavO´Meer on May 25, 2004 7:08:04 GMT -5
@ Lukasz
The contract with F. Hossa was to expire 31st of May 2004. Hossa initially did not want to continue after that date. So the Executive Council named Filc for World Cup. But after World Championship they´ve made a new 1-year contract with Hossa.
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Post by Jazz on May 25, 2004 13:25:01 GMT -5
Ah ok....so that explains the confusion. Thanks Samo. And welcome aboard! Gurj in Vancouver.
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pyr
Prospect
Sophomore
Posts: 259
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Post by pyr on May 29, 2004 5:40:46 GMT -5
Samo, you see it all only from "sunday fan perspective". Noone asked Hossa, if he wanted to continue by national team after World Championship before Filc was named as head coach for World Cup. I´m sure, Hossa wouldn´t say no. On the other side I´m happy for this. For me is not important if Filc was egoistic and wanted to be the coach for this prestigeous tournament or was only persuaded into doing it by the guys from federation. If we want to be successful Filc is the best choice.
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Post by starrightwinger on May 29, 2004 12:59:13 GMT -5
So pyr by your last comment Filc is a much better coach than Fero Hossa? I don't care who the coach is as long as they win! I'm new to the Slovak team so I really have no idea who the best man for the head coaching job.
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Post by SlavO´Meer on May 31, 2004 8:05:38 GMT -5
@ pyr
Might be. I´d been looking for this topic in sport internet resources, and I saw it that way. But I felt the same as you wrote: Filc just used his strong position in Slovak hockey union. Of course my opinion is the same, Filc is a better coach from strategic point of view. His philosophy and "bench policy" is more effective. Hossa´s approach leads to "infinity" in defence, it can not lead to scoring against talented teams.
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Post by starrightwinger on May 31, 2004 13:08:06 GMT -5
'Scoring against talented teams'. The Slovaks will need more offense to beat the Canadians that's for sure. Too much defense makes for a boring game! More offense!
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