Team Slovakia at the 2027 WJC: Roster, Schedule, History & Predictions

Team Slovakia will enter the 2027 World Junior Championship in Red Deer as an unpredictable threat. The Slovaks will face strong teams in their group and aim to reach the quarterfinals. They will bring a mix of young talent and international experience, with players from the U-18 silver-medal roster.

Team Slovakia World Junior Championship 2027 roster schedule and prediction

Detail	Information
Tournament	IIHF World Junior Championship 2027
Dates	Dec 26, 2026 – Jan 5, 2027
Team Group	A
Venue	Marchant Crane Centrium, Red Deer
Head Coach	Peter Frühauf
General Manager	Tomáš Pšenka
Recent Finish	8th in 2026
WJC Gold Medals	0
Last Update	Oct 10, 2026

This dedicated Team Slovakia World Junior Championship 2027 guide page covers their schedule, projected roster, lineup, key players, strengths, weaknesses, history, our expert projection, and everything you need to know.

Slovakia’s Schedule at the 2027 World Juniors

Slovakia is in Group A and will play all its group-stage games at Marchant Crane Centrium in Red Deer, Alberta. They will face Sweden, USA, Germany, and Finland in the preliminary round. View the complete 2027 tournament schedule on our dedicated schedule page.

Team Slovakia 2027 World Junior Championship schedule with Sweden USA Germany and Finland

Date	Opponent	Time (MT)	Time (ET)	Venue
Dec 27, 2026	Sweden	2:30 PM	4:30 PM	Marchant Crane Centrium, Red Deer
Dec 28, 2026	USA	2:30 PM	4:30 PM	Marchant Crane Centrium, Red Deer
Dec 30, 2026	Germany	4:30 PM	6:30 PM	Marchant Crane Centrium, Red Deer
Dec 31, 2026	Finland	2:30 PM	4:30 PM	Marchant Crane Centrium, Red Deer

Complete Team Slovakia Roster for 2027

Team Slovakia has not yet announced its official roster. The roster given below is our projection list and includes 14 forwards, 8 defensemen, and 3 goalies. Head coach Peter Frühauf will announce the final lineup in December after selection camp.

Forwards

Player	Pos	Shoots	Height	Weight	Current Team	NHL Rights
Tomáš Chrenko	C	R	5’11”	172 lbs	HK Nitra (Slovakia)	New York Rangers (2026, R3 #81)
Adam Nemec	LW	L	6’1″	176 lbs	Sudbury (OHL)	Ottawa Senators (2026, R3 #72)
Ján Chovan	C/RW	L	6’3″	190 lbs	Sudbury (OHL)	Los Angeles Kings (2025, R6 #184)
Michal Svrček	W	L	6’0″	191 lbs	Windsor (OHL)	Detroit Red Wings (2025, R4 #119)
Lucian Bernát	RW	R	6’4″	201 lbs	Owen Sound (OHL)	Vancouver Canucks (2026, R6 #176)
Timothy Kazda	W	R	6’1″	194 lbs	Guelph (OHL)	2027 Draft Eligible
Samuel Murín	F	L	6’2″	207 lbs	Lincoln (USHL)	Undrafted
Andreas Straka	LW/C	L	6’1″	190 lbs	Québec (QMJHL)	Undrafted
Tobias Tomík	C/RW	L	6’1″	185 lbs	Vancouver (WHL)	Undrafted
Ivan Matta	LW	L	5’11”	179 lbs	Dukla Michalovce (Slovakia)	Undrafted
Jakub Dubravík	LW/RW	L	5’10”	185 lbs	Des Moines (USHL)	Undrafted
Lukáš Tomka	F	L	6’2″	203 lbs	Banská Bystrica (Slovakia)	Undrafted
Alex Mišiak	RW/F	L	6’0″	183 lbs	Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)	Undrafted
Damien Ackermann	F	L	5’8″	126 lbs	Nitra U20 (Slovakia)	Undrafted

Defensemen

Player	Shoots	Height	Weight	Current Team	NHL Rights
Luka Radivojevič	R	5’10”	181 lbs	Boston College (NCAA)	Undrafted
Adam Goljer	R	6’2″	205 lbs	Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)	Los Angeles Kings (2026, R2 #49)
Filip Kovalčík	L	6’2″	187 lbs	Drummondville (QMJHL)	2027 Draft Eligible
Michal Čapoš	R	6’4″	209 lbs	Wenatchee (WHL)	Undrafted
Adam Kalman	L	5’11”	183 lbs	Nitra (Slovakia)	Undrafted
Matúš Lisý	L	6’0″	192 lbs	Red Deer (WHL)	Undrafted
Patrik Rusznyák	R	6’4″	203 lbs	Tri-City (USHL)	Undrafted
Filip Dominik Fajnor	L	6’4″	205 lbs	Slavia Praha U20 (Czechia)	Undrafted

Goaltenders

Player	Catches	Height	Weight	Current Team	NHL Rights
Michal Prádel	L	6’5″	198 lbs	Colorado College (NCAA)	Detroit Red Wings (2025, R3 #75)
Samuel Hrenák	L	6’3″	190 lbs	Fargo (USHL)	Winnipeg Jets (2026, R3 #71)
Leo Henriquez	L	6’2″	165 lbs	Boston College (NCAA)	Boston Bruins (2026, R6 #170)

Coaching & Management Staff

Role	Name
Team Manager	Tomáš Pšenka
Head Coach	Peter Frühauf
Assistant Coach	Martin Dendis
Assistant Coach	Ivan Švarný
Assistant Coach	Andrew Ralph Boschetto
Consultant	Vladimír Országh
Goaltending Coach	Peter Kosa
Conditioning Coach	Richard Pinka
Video Analyst	Patrik Michnáč

Projected Line Combination

The lineup below represents our projected roster for the Slovak team. It is not official. The final lineup will be determined during the December selection camp.

Forward Lines

First line: Adam Nemec (OTT, L) – Tomáš Chrenko (NYR, R) – Ján Chovan (LAK, L)
Second line: Michal Svrček (DET, L) – Tobias Tomík (Undrafted, L) – Lucian Bernát (VAN, R)
Third line: Ivan Matta (Undrafted, L) – Andreas Straka (Undrafted, L) – Timothy Kazda (2027, R)
Fourth line: Jakub Dubravík (Undrafted, L) – Samuel Murín (Undrafted, L) – Lukáš Tomka (Undrafted, L)
Extras: Alex Mišiak (Undrafted, L), Damien Ackermann (Undrafted, L)

Defensemen Pairing

First pair: Luka Radivojevič (Undrafted, R) – Adam Kalman (Undrafted, L)
Second pair: Adam Goljer (LAK, R) – Filip Kovalčík (2027, L)
Third pair: Michal Čapoš (Undrafted, R) – Matúš Lisý (Undrafted, L)
Extras: Patrik Rusznyák (Undrafted, R), Filip Dominik Fajnor (Undrafted, L)

Goaltender Depth Chart

Starter: Michal Prádel
Backup: Samuel Hrenák
Third-string: Leo Henriquez

Key Players to Watch

Tomáš Chrenko

C · New York Rangers

Chrenko is an important attacker for Slovakia. He scored eight points in the 2026 WJC. The Rangers picked him 81st overall in June 2026. He also helped Nitra win the Slovak Extraliga title last spring. They will look to him for goals and playmaking.

Luka Radivojevič

D · Undrafted

Radivojevič is heading into his fourth World Junior Championship as Slovakia’s undisputed leader. The Boston College defenseman is expected to play a key role on the power play. He also competed in the 2026 Men’s World Championship. NHL teams will watch him closely.

Ján Chovan

C/RW · Los Angeles Kings

Chovan brings size and scoring ability to Slovakia’s forward group. He scored Slovakia’s only goal in its 2026 quarterfinal loss to Canada and recorded 55 points for Sudbury in the OHL last season.

Adam Nemec

LW · Ottawa Senators

Nemec is a skilled winger who can create scoring chances. He is the younger brother of Devils star Šimon Nemec. He scored 35 points in 31 OHL games after joining Sudbury last season. Slovakia will hope he can make a difference in its top six.

Michal Prádel

G · Detroit Red Wings

Prádel seized Slovakia’s crease midway through the 2026 tournament. He posted a .918 save percentage for Tri-City in the USHL. The 6’5″ goalie is committed to Colorado College. He gives Slovakia a chance every night.

Timothy Kazda

W · 2027 Draft Eligible

Kazda was named MVP of the 2026 U18 Worlds after posting 12 points in seven games. He helped Slovakia win silver on home ice. Now with Guelph in the OHL, he is a top 2027 draft prospect.

Team Slovakia Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

Returning Players: Several players from the 2026 tournament roster are eligible to return with more experience.
U18 medal experience: Players like Goljer, Kazda, Hrenák, Bernát, and others from Slovakia’s 2026 U-18 know how to compete in big games.
Goaltending Depth: Michal Prádel and other young goalies give Slovakia several options in net.
Strong team spirit: Slovakia works hard as a team and relies on effort rather than a few star players.
North American experience: Up to 19 players compete in the CHL, USHL, or NCAA, giving them experience against different styles of hockey.

Weaknesses

Tough Schedule: Facing Sweden and the USA early will be a big test for Slovakia.
Scoring depth: Slovakia may rely heavily on Tomáš Chrenko and its top forwards to produce goals.
Fewer NHL-drafted players: Nine players in the pool hold NHL draft rights.
Young defense: Two 2008-born defensemen will face elite competition.

Slovakia at Previous World Juniors (History)

Team Slovakia has never won a gold medal at the World Junior Championships. They won bronze medals in 1999 and 2015. The program has reached the quarterfinals in four straight years.

Year	Finish	Location
2026	8th Place (Quarterfinals)	Minnesota, United States
2025	6th Place (Quarterfinals)	Ottawa, Canada
2024	6th Place (Quarterfinals)	Gothenburg, Sweden
2023	6th Place (Quarterfinals)	Moncton & Halifax, Canada
2022	9th Place	Edmonton, Canada
2021	8th Place	Edmonton, Canada
2020	8th Place	Ostrava & Trinec, Czechia

Prediction about the Slovakia Team in the 2027 edition

Team Slovakia will face two of the tournament’s toughest teams, Sweden and the USA, on its first two days. Scoring a point against them will change everything. The team has the talent to compete for a quarter-final spot. We predict Slovakia finishes fourth in Group A.

Conclusion

Team Slovakia may lack star players, but this group has something better. Up to nineteen players from the 2026 team, plus U18 silver medalists, are eligible to return. They will face Sweden & USA on their first two days at the tournament.

If the goaltending holds and Chrenko leads the offense, Red Deer could witness another Slovak surprise. Check back in December for the official roster.

Frequently Asked Questions

Slovakia plays its first game against Sweden on December 27, 2026, in Red Deer.

Peter Frühauf is the head coach, and Tomáš Pšenka is the team manager.

They will play all their group-stage matches at the Marchant Crane Centrium in Red Deer.

Yes, they won only bronze medals in 1999 and 2015.

Slovakia is expected to announce its final roster in early December.

Michal Prádel is projected as Slovakia’s starting goaltender.

Very likely, yes. Slovakia has made the quarterfinals in four straight tournaments. With four of the five Group A teams advancing, they mainly need to finish above Germany. The December 30 game against Germany matters most.