Four players were part of the national team that captured silver at this year's U18 World Championship.
Eight Slovak ice hockey players were selected in the NHL Draft over the weekend, matching the country's highest total in recent years. Four of them were members of the Slovak national team that won silver at this year's IIHF U18 World Championship on home ice.
Captain Adam Goljer was the highest-drafted Slovak, going to the Los Angeles Kings in the second round, 49th overall. Some draft projections had him being selected in the first round.
"I wasn't 100 percent sure about any team, but I didn't expect LA at all. I didn't talk with them much. [Slovaks] Ján Chovan and Martin Chromiak are also in the organisation, so I'm looking forward to it," Goljer said.
Overall, Slovak players were selected between the second and sixth rounds, meaning the country has now gone three consecutive drafts without a first-round pick among the top 32 selections.
