Slovakian Ambassador Visits Canadiens’ Juraj Slafkovský

The Slovakin ambassador to Washington, Radovan Javorčík, recently visited Juraj Slafkovský, the highly-touted prospect of the Montreal Canadiens, following their victory against the Capitals. Although Juraj had expressed interest in meeting with Javorčík and the ambassador had planned to attend the game, unforeseen circumstances prevented their encounter.

Nevertheless, two employees from the Slovakian embassy, accompanied by their families, visited Slafkovský instead, making for a gathering of eight compatriots. They discussed Juraj’s performance in the game, as he scored two goals, including one against Martin Fehérváry, a fellow Slovakian defenseman for the Capitals. Juraj also spoke to the children of the embassy staff, encouraging their interest in hockey.

This visit reflects the immense interest that Juraj Slafkovský has generated in Slovakia. According to Javorčík, Slafkovský has become an idol for young Slovaks and is regarded as one of the country’s top three most famous athletes alongside alpine skier Petra Vlhová and soccer player Marek Hamšík.

Radovan Javorčík acknowledges the difficulties faced by the sport of hockey in Slovakia following the departure of players like Marián Gáborík and Žigmund Pálffy. However, Juraj’s emergence at the Olympics at the age of 17 and his subsequent success has rejuvenated the sport in the country.

Slovakia boasts approximately 12,000 registered hockey players, making hockey more popular than soccer despite the latter being more widely practiced. The ambassador emphasizes the intense rivalry between Slovakia and the Czech Republic in hockey, describing it as a passionate and integral part of the sport.

The embassy of Slovakia in Washington consists of around 15 employees, and part of their role is to promote Slovakian interests in various domains, including sports. Javorčík appreciates the opportunity to attend hockey games and showcase the representation of Slovakia when a Slovakian player is involved. Although the ambassador did not have the chance to meet Juraj this time, he plans to make amends next season.

The news of Juraj’s rising star in the NHL and his impressive performances have caught the attention of many, including Canadiens’ head coach Martin St-Louis. With his skills, size, and ability to go to the net, Juraj is considered an ideal player for the playoffs, drawing comparisons to former Canadiens and Flyers forward John Leclair. As the hockey season progresses, Juraj Slafkovský continues to make a name for himself in the NHL.