Slovenia men's national ice hockey team
Slovenia's national ice hockey team, ranked 13th as of June 2026.
The Slovenia men's national ice hockey team represents Slovenia in international ice hockey and is governed by the Ice Hockey Federation of Slovenia. As of June 2026, the team is ranked 13th in the world by the IIHF World Ranking. Its biggest success is reaching the quarter-finals at the 2014 Winter Olympics, and its best record at the Ice Hockey World Championships is 13th place, achieved in 2002, 2005, 2025, and 2026.
Quick Facts
- Nickname
- Risi (The Lynx)
- Association
- Ice Hockey Federation of Slovenia
- General Manager
- Dejan Kontrec
- Coach
- Edo Terglav
- Asst Coach
- Gorazd Drinovec / Andrej Tavželj
- Captain
- Robert Sabolič
- Iihf Code
- SLO
- Iihf Max
- 13
- Iihf Max Date
- 2026
- Iihf Min
- 20
- Iihf Min Date
- 2020–21
- Team Colors
- blue #43B02A white
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Before Slovenia's independence, Slovenian hockey players played for the Yugoslavia national team. From 1939, when Yugoslavia took part in its first World Championship, to 1991, when the country disintegrated, 91% of all Yugoslav national team members were Slovenes, including the entire squad that represented Yugoslavia at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. Slovenia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and joined the International Ice Hockey Federation the following year. They first played as an independent nation at the 1993 World Championship, hosting the Group C tournament, the lowest tier. They played in the elite division for the first time in 2002, and at their first Winter Olympics in 2014.
Reader's Guide
The Slovenia men's national ice hockey team has achieved notable milestones since its independence. Its biggest success is reaching the quarter-finals at the 2014 Winter Olympics, and its best World Championship finish is 13th place, achieved in 2002, 2005, 2025, and 2026. The team has been coached by a series of head coaches, including Rudi Hiti, Vladimir Krikunov, Pavle Kavčič, Matjaž Sekelj, Kari Savolainen, František Výborný, Ted Sator, Mats Waltin, John Harrington, Matjaž Kopitar, Nik Zupančič, Ivo Jan, and Edo Terglav, who has been head coach since 2023. Seven players from Slovenia have been drafted into the NHL since 1998, with Anže Kopitar and Jan Muršak having played in the league. The team's current roster for the 2026 IIHF World Championship is led by head coach Edo Terglav.
More in International and Olympic Ice Hockey, Part 2 1-24
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