Martin Pospíšil will strengthen the Slovak hockey team at the World Cup 2026 in Switzerland. The forward of the Calgary Flames informed about his participation in the championship at a meeting with overseas journalists after the end of the regular season of the NHL, and his start at the World Cup was also confirmed by the Canadian club on social networks.
Pospíšil is the second confirmed NHL signing after forward Adam Sýkor from the New York Rangers. This will be his second participation in the WC, he also appeared at the championship in 2024 in the Czech Republic. He collected seven points (3+4) in seven duels there. He also represented Slovakia at this year’s Olympic Games in Milan, where the national team took fourth place. Due to health problems, he played only 22 games for the Flames this season, scoring one goal and adding two assists.
“I’m going,” Pospíšil answered briefly when asked by an overseas journalist whether he would represent Slovakia at the World Cup and confirmed that he had successfully passed the exit medical examination after the end of the NHL regular season. In the current year, due to an injury, he did not get into the competition until the second half of January. “It really wasn’t easy. I certainly didn’t expect to get injured before the season. I’m glad I got through it, now it’s behind me. I can look forward and start again.” he was quoted by the Slovak version of the NHL’s official website.
He was absent for a long time during the season even he could not help the Flames to a place in the playoffs after his return. Calgary took up to 14th place in the Western Conference table, and the Slovak forward did not get much space on the ice at the end of the regular season.
“Now I felt myself in some games, but often I didn’t play as physically as I’m used to. In addition, I spent much less time on the ice than a year ago. I didn’t even show that I deserve more. I have to play better and I will definitely fight for more minutes.” said Pospíšil, who has a valid contract with the club until the end of the 2028/2029 season. He would like to play with his brother Kristián from Kometa Brno at the WC in Switzerland. In addition to Pospíšil, goalkeeper Devin Cooley from the USA should also start from Calgary at the WC.
The coach of the Slovak national team, Vladimír Országh, confirmed on Friday after the preliminary match with Switzerland that Neither Martin Fehérváry nor Adam Ružička will come to the WC. They thus joined the list of absences to the previously confirmed Šimon Nemec. The Slovak helmsman has not yet spoken to Dalibor Dvorský or Pavlo Regenda from the NHL. However, goalkeepers Adam Gajan and Samuel Hlavaj should appear from overseas already at the next meeting.
