Nemec, Slafkovsky set to represent Slovakia at Olympics

Simon Nemec and Juraj Slafkovsky are bound for Beijing. 

The pair, each eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft, were named to Slovakia’s entry for the 2022 Beijing Olympics next month.

Nemec, No. 3 in FCHockey’s Winter ranking for the 2022 draft, is the top-ranked defenseman in the draft class. He has 18 points, all assists, in 27 games with HK Nitra in Slovakia’s men’s league. He was an alternate captain for Slovakia at the abbreviated 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, and skated with Slovakia at the 2021 IIHF Men’s World Championship last spring, recording one assist in five games. 

For the 8th consecutive time since gaining independence, Slovakia🇸🇰 will play at the #Olympics in #Beijing2022. Here are the chosen players from six different leagues: https://t.co/ay3YhMZPPQ#RoadToBeijing #hockey #icehockey #hokej #Slovakia @HockeySlovakia @olympijskytim pic.twitter.com/oXPyt4pQdk

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) January 18, 2022

Slafkovsky, No. 9 in FCHockey’s Winter ranking, has four points (one goal, three assists) in 20 games with TPS in Liiga, Finland’s top men’s circuit. He also has 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 11 games with their junior club in U20 SM-sarja. Like Nemec, Slafkovsky represented Slovakia at both the World Juniors and the Men’s World Championship. 

The 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games will take place from February 3-20, 2022 in Beijing, China. Slovakia will play in Group C alongside Finland, Sweden, and Slovakia.