Slovakia has a very difficult U18 World Hockey Championship in front of them after last year's impressive fourth-place finish after losing to Canada in the bronze medal game.

This team just flatly isn't as good on paper as that one. Dalibor Dvorský has aged out, and they're going to have to try to replace his impact by committee. The biggest names on this roster will probably be Adam Nemec (the younger brother of Simon Nemec) and Miroslav Šatan Jr (the son of that Miroslav Šatan). Luka Radivojevic, an '07-born defenceman in his draft-minus-one season, will probably be their best player though

Their most important player, though, will be their goalie – more so than usual. Because if this Slovak squad has a chance of pulling off some inspired upsets, it all starts in-goal with Martin Haronik.

Let's look at the roster in totality though: