The Slovak hockey representatives will play against Italy on Sunday from 12:20 p.m. in the position of favorites, but coach Vladimír Országh is aware that it will not be an easy match. In goal he will rely on Adama Gajana. He will make his debut at the world championship. Eugen Rabčan will be his back on the substitutes. Samuel Hlavaj will only be on the stand.
Coach Országh made two changes compared to the first match, Martin Faško-Rudáš will start in the first attack with Martin and Kristián Pospíšil on the wing, Oliver Okuliar will move to the second formation. The Slovaks have thirteen attackers at their disposal in the offensive, defender Jakub Meliško did not fit into the lineup either. The teams skate on the ice in the following formations:
Italy: Smith – Pietroniro, Zanatta, di Perna, Trivellato, Gios, Spornberger, Nitz, Buono – Purdeller, Bradley, de Luca – Digiacinto, Frycklund, Saracino – Segafredo, Mantenuto, Frigo – Zanetti, Misley, Mantinger
Slovakia: Gajan – Gajdoš, Rosandič, Kmec, Koch, Štrbák, Kňažko, Radivojevič – Faško-Rudaš, M. Pospíšil, K. Pospíšil – Liška, Hrivík, Okuliar – Chromiak, Čederle, Sýkora – Mešár, Kollár, Petrovský – Minárik
Although the Slovak team will start the second match in two days, they had more time to regenerate than the Italians. They started the championship with a 0:6 loss against Canada, the match started on Saturday at 16.20. The Slovak team did not have a pre-match warm-up on Sunday, as the duel was scheduled from 12:20 p.m. Only forward Aurel Nauš, who is not yet on the roster, and defender Jakub Meliško were on the ice.
