Milano Cortina 2026: Get to Know Team Slovakia

The Para ice hockey competition at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games promises to deliver fast-paced action, emotional storylines, and world-class competition as the  world’s best teams gather from 7 to 15 March. All games will be played at the newly built Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, a state-of-the-art venue designed to showcase the speed and physicality of the sport. The compact schedule and single-venue format will create an intense atmosphere, with multiple high-stakes matchups unfolding across nine days of competition.

The eight qualified teams will be divided into two preliminary-round groups of four. Each team will play three round-robin games within its group, with the top two advancing to the semifinals. The remaining teams will move into classification games to determine fifth through eighth place. With little margin for error in a short tournament, every shift — and every point — will matter.

Here’s a look at No. 6-seeded Slovakia. 

Background 

Slovakia has had one of the most rapid growth progressions in Para ice hockey, and will now be making its second consecutive Paralympic Winter Games appearance. After making its debut in the sport at the Beijing 2022 Games, Slovakia solidified its position in the A-Pool with a sixth-place finish at the 2024 World Championships with crucial wins against Italy and Korea. The team is recognized for having a strong, resilient, and growing presence on the international stage, backed by a nation that deeply loves hockey.

Slovakia won four of its five games at the Paralympic Qualification Tournament last November, to book its place at Milano-Cortina. Key players such as forwards Martin Joppa and Jozef Garbiar anchor the offense with scoring ability and playmaking, while goaltenders Eduard Lepacek and Miroslav Pastucha are central to Slovakia’s defensive strategy, often keeping games close through strong saves and disciplined positioning.

Slovakia 🇸🇰 is moving up the ranks. Don’t blink! #ParaIceHockey #Paralympics @milanocortina26 pic.twitter.com/pkkFAWOy08

— Para Ice Hockey (@paraicehockey) February 8, 2026

Roster Breakdown

Forwards: Jozef Garbiar, Martin Joppa, David Korman, Marian Ligda, Miroslav Stasak, Robert Turic, Milos Vecerek

Defenders: Slavomir Ferencik, Erik Fojtik, Michal Hlinka, Richard Varga, Miroslav Kardos, Jan Puchein

Goaltenders: Eduard Lepacek, Miroslav Pastucha

Paralympic Winter Games History 

2022: 7th place

Athlete to Watch

Martin Joppa is the heartbeat of Slovakia’s offense and arguably the most accomplished player in the programme’s history. A dynamic forward with a heavy shot and strong vision, Joppa consistently leads the team in scoring at major international events. He was named the Most Valuable Player at the Paralympic Qualification Tournament last year, leading all scorers with 14 points (7 goals, 7 assists). His ability to create chances off the rush and quarterback the power play makes him Slovakia’s primary offensive catalyst.

Matchup to Watch

Slovakia vs. Czechia on Monday, 9 March: A meeting with neighbouring rival Czech carries added intensity, as familiarity between the two programmes is expected to produce a tight, physical contest. A strong result in this matchup would provide Slovakia with crucial early momentum in the preliminary round and strengthen its position in the race for a semifinal berth.