Being part of this team is a therapy: Slovakia’s Martin Joppa

For Slovakia’s experienced forward and captain Martin Joppa, Para ice hockey is more than just a game. It is healing, belonging and family.

Beyond the goals and saves, every practice session means something bigger: the strength, loyalty, and brotherhood that hold this team together. 

“Being part of this team is therapy for me.”

 “We have a lot of fun together. We really are like a family,” the 28-year-old says.

That sense of unity has once again carried Slovakia onto the Paralympic stage at Milano Cortina 2026 – the team’s second appearance at the Winter Games.

Love at first sight 

Hockey had always been part of Joppa’s life. Before his accident in 2005, he played the sport like many Slovak children, dreaming of competing in big arenas. At just eight years old, everything changed.

Yet even in hospital, hockey found him again.

Members of the Slovak ice hockey national team came to visit him. Among them was the legendary Jan Lasak, who introduced him to Para ice hockey – which was played in Joppa’s hometown Kezmarok. Few years later, a development camp invitation followed when Peter Stit launched a programme in Slovakia.

“It was love at first sight,” he recalls.

From that day onwards, he pursued the sport seriously. 

“I’ve lived with hockey for as long as I can remember, I pursue it seriously from day one. It was really big for me that I could play hockey even after the accident.”

The early years were demanding. Learning to skate in a sled and control the puck required patience. With limited ice time and few practice sessions, progress took longer.

“It was a slow start,” he admits. “But I loved it from the beginning. Nothing could stop me.”

The journey that began in a hospital room took him to several major events, including Beijing 2022 – his and Slovakia’s first Paralympic Winter Games. The team finished seventh, but the experience was more about mental growth than the final ranking. 

“In Beijing, we didn’t manage it in our heads. It was too big for our little programme,” he reflects. “Now we are mentally stronger and prepared for everything the Paralympic Games bring.”

After the Beijing 2022 Games, the team changed coaches and reshaped its tactical identity. The growth since then has been significant, especially mentally.

Slovakia beats Japan and finishes 3rd in Group B 🇨🇿
Next up: classification games on Thursday, 12 March.

Schedule, results & stats: https://t.co/shYvaS3ae9@milanocortina26 @Paralympics pic.twitter.com/rTX8souyh0

— Para Ice Hockey (@paraicehockey) March 10, 2026

Leading the team

Qualification for Milano Cortina 2026 meant everything to the team. After the disappointment of missing out at the World Championship, they knew the Qualification Tournament in Jessheim, Norway, was likely their final opportunity with this core group of players and that made every moment count. 

“Our team is getting older. We wanted that Paralympic spot for the guys.”

What followed was a run of determined, disciplined performances last November at Jessheim 2025. Led by Joppa, the Slovaks pulled off a dramatic 2-1 victory over Korea to seal their place at the Games, joining the already-qualified Italy, United States, Canada, Czechia, China and Germany, alongside Japan, who also earned their place in Jessheim. 

“We believed we could do it. We enjoyed every minute. It was mostly fun for us.”

Regarded as one of the team’s key players, Joppa embraces responsibility. In a squad with limited depth, every player carries weight.

“In our small roster, everyone is a key player. But I try to be a leader on the ice and off the ice.”

As a forward, he takes pride in creating chances for his teammates and setting the rhythm of the game.

“I love creating chances for my teammates. But obviously I love scoring goals as well. For the last few years, I worked a lot on my defensive game, so I hope I’m good in our zone too.”

And so it has been. Joppa scored two goals and two assists in Slovakia’s 5-1 historic win over Japan – the nation’s first victory at a Paralympic Games. 

Slovakia’s ambition at Milano Cortina is realistic yet determined.

“My team and I believe that we can fight for the fifth place. We want to play every game with our heads up and enjoy every moment. I want to be a good leader and captain for the team.

“We are in the biggest tournament of our sport. We want to show everyone that it’s not a coincidence that we have that spot.”

For that to happen, they must beat Germany on Thursday at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena to qualify for the fifth-place game.

Playing for family

For Joppa, the Paralympic Games mean far more than standings. They represent resilience after trauma, growth after disappointment, and the power of belonging.

At Milano Cortina 2026, that meaning is deeply personal, with his wife, extended family and nearly two-year-old son cheering from the stands.

“My whole family is coming. I’m really looking forward to having them there.”

His son has already been to his games. At home, they watch hockey together, with the toddler sometimes shouting louder than his father during Olympic broadcasts.

“He and my wife are my biggest fans,” he says with a smile. “It’s always more enjoyable playing in front of them.”

From hospital visits as a child to hearing his own son cheer in the stands, the journey feels surreal. At his second Paralympics, he is more motivated than ever.

“The time when we qualified for the Games for the first time was unforgettable, and now I have the same feeling,” Joppa said.

And this time, he hopes to turn that emotion into something even more special on the ice. 

As he put it after the game against Canada in Milano, the time’s identity is simple.

"We just love the game. We do it for the game and for the love of the game. And we are just happy players. We have our regular jobs and everything and we just put our hearts in it, and that's it. That's why we are here."

Fast Facts

Nickname: Jopik 
Favourite Italian food: All Italian food, and if I must pick one then it would be pasta carbonara
Favourite Italian place: Rome – the nicest city in the world 
Favourite pre-game ritual: Sleep