MENU
Sweden remains unbeaten at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and confirmed their dominance with a convincing 7:0 win over Slovakia. The Swedes scored four goals across the first two periods, prompting a goalie change from the Slovak bench. But it had little effect – Sweden added three more goals in the third and comfortably advanced to the semi-finals. Slovakia finish third in their group and will go on to battle for fifth place overal.
Penalties: 6:7. PP goals: 0:4. SH goals: 0:0.
Referees: Stano, Štefik – Durmis, Tichý. Attendance: 3148.
Report
After fending off an early Slovak push, Sweden struck first. Ludvig Andersson set up Malte Gustafsson in the slot for the opener. Slovakia failed to capitalise on a powerplay and were punished again when Marcus Nordmark found Nils Bartholdsson for a well-placed finish. Slovakia had a late first-period push, but Adam Obušek couldn’t beat the goalie on two tries.
Sweden kept control in the second. Nordmark surprised Samuel Hrenák with a sharp-angle shot during a powerplay and Elton Hermansson added another man-advantage goal soon after to make it a 4:0 goal. Slovakia changed goalies, bringing in Denis Čelko, but Sweden continued to dictate the pace.
That didn’t change in the final period. Isak Holtet beat Čelko with a low shot to make it 5:0 and though Mikael Kim missed a penalty shot, Sweden weren’t done. After a Slovak chance was denied by Milo Tjärnlund, Nordmark broke in again but was stopped. Sweden added two more goals late – Hermansson scored on a 5-on-3, and Nordmark capped things off from the left circle, scoring Sweden’s seventh goal of the game.
Sweden’s 7:0 win secures them top spot in the Trenčín group and a chance to battle for more medals.