Slovakia names Olympic squad

07 Jan 2014 | Davide Tuniz

Zdeno Chara leads a team without legend Miroslav Satan and with two rookies.

The wait is over: today afternoon in Bratislava the national coach Vladimir Vůjtek announced the final 25 names nomination for the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Slovakia will travel to Russia with some doubts - injured Lubomir Visnovsky, Michal Sersen and Marian Gaborik - 12 players from last Olympics in Vancouver where Slovakia finished fourth, the best ever result: goalies Peter Budaj and Jaroslav Halák, defenders Ivan Baranka, Zdeno Chára, Andrej Meszároš, Andrej Sekera, Ľubomír Višňovský and forwards Marián Gáborík, Michal Handzuš, Tomáš Kopecký, Marián and Marcel Hossa.

Unexpected nominations are Kosice forward Tomas Marcinko and Edmonton defender Martin Marinčin. The latter, along with Detroit forward Tomas Jurco, earns his first ever cap at senior level. the most notable absence is of course of veteran Miroslav Satan, out after 4 consecutive Olympics. Slovakia will debut in Sochi against USA on February 13

Slovakia final roster

Goalies:

Jaroslav HALÁK (St. Louis/NHL)

Peter BUDAJ (Montreal/NHL)

Ján LACO (Donbass Donets'k/KHL)

Defenders:

Ivan BARANKA (Avangard Omsk/KHL)

Dominik GRAŇÁK (Dinamo Moskva/KHL)

Zdeno CHÁRA (Boston/NHL)

Martin MARINČIN (Edmonton/NHL)

Andrej MESZÁROŠ (Philadelphia/NHL)

Andrej SEKERA (Carolina/NHL)