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The Slovakian team for the WJC is made up of seven players from the Slovakian leagues, two playing in Czech Republic, two playing in USHL and eleven playing in CHL. The team is a combination of players born in 1984 and 1985. The team will try to continue the trend set last season when the U20 team finished fifth and the U18 team (players born in 1985) won silver medals in Russia. Slovakia plays in Group A against Russia, USA, Austria and Sweden.

Here are short profiles of key players:

Jaroslav Halak            G         05/13/85                       5`11``               172       L         

Drafted by Montreal    9^th round          2003    

Halak is the key factor for the team`s success. In April he was excellent and led U18 team to silver medals. In the 2003 NHL Draft he was selected by Montreal Canadiens in ninth round. Halak started this season in junior team of Slovan Bratislava. In November when the men`s starting goalie was injured and his backup goalie was on cold streak, Halak became No. 1 goalie in Slovan`s Extraleague team. In total, he played in 11 games with 6 wins, 3 ties and only one loss. He has 1.52 GAA and .945 save percentage. Later he was sent back to his junior team to prepare for the WJC.

Andrej Meszaros         D          10/13/85                       6`2``                 189       R

2004 Draft Eligible

Meszaros should be the leader of the team. He knows most of his teammates, because he played at two U18 WJCs. In April he was the captain of the silver medal winning team. This season he won his regular spot in Dukla Trencin`s Extraleague team. He is rushing defenseman who can be a great power play quarterback. He reads the play very well and intercepts a lot of passes in neutral zone. Meszaros is the top 2004 draft eligible prospect out of Slovakia.

Ivan Baranka   D          05/19/85                       6`2``                 183       L

Drafted by NY Rangers           2^nd round         2003

Baranka was the highest Slovaka pick in 2003 NHL Draft when being selected by Rangers in second round. He is playing his rookie season in the WHL for the Everrett Silvertips. He is the key defenseman in the team`s inaugural season. Baranka has great mobility for his size. He makes hard and accurate hits and also plays great without the puck as he makes a lot of space for his teammates. He will play in pairing with QMJHLer Milan Hruska as they did last year on the U18 team.

Richard Stehlik           D          06/22/84                       6`4``                 240       L

Drafted by Nashville               3^rd round          2003

Stehlik is the team`s captain and most experienced player. This will be his third WJC, finishing eighth in 2002 and fifth in 2003. Stehlik started his second season in Lewiston Maineiacs team in QMJHL (former Sherbrooke Castors). Before playing in CHL he finished two seaons in Slovak Extraleague in his hometown team HK 36 Skalica. Only Marian Gaborik was younger when playing regularly in Slovak Extraleague. Stehlik is an aggressive defenseman with hard shot from the point. He was drafted by Predators in third round of 2003 NHL Draft.

Rastislav Spirko          RW      06/21/84                       5`9``                 175       R

Spirko hasn`t been drafted by any NHL team, probably because of his size. He is smallish forward with solid scoring touch. He is very creative player. Last year he was rookie of the year in Slovak Extraleague and now plays in Tri City Storm in USHL. Spirko leads the league with 20 goals in 26 games. He is the key offensive player of this team.

Stefan Ruzicka            RW      02/17/85                       5`11``               189       R

Drafted by Philadelphia            3^rd round          2003    

Ruzicka is another offensive threat in this team. He is natural goal scorer. Being selected by Flyers in the third round of NHL Draft, he decided to play in CHL. After short time of adaptation he started to score goals and became team`s top scoring forward. Ruzicka has natural scoring instinct and soft hands. He controls the puck pretty well. He is point-per-game player. 

Complete roster