WJC: Wounded Slovaks

The Slovak under-20 team isn't likely to make a big splash at this World Junior Championship.

Hampered by recent injuries and lacking enough quality players on the roster to match the depth of the main powers in their group, the Slovaks appear headed for a battle with Sweden for the last medal-round spot.

Moreover, based on subpar showings at the warmup tournaments leading up to the WJC, don't be shocked to find them joining Latvia in the relegation group.

The news was bad and untimely for the Slovak coaching staff as several key players recently went down to injury. Forward Roman Tomanek went home to recover from knee and shoulder problems. Big things were expected from Tomanek, who was hoping to resume his lethal partnership with Marek Zagrapan from the 2004 under-18 WJC.

Talented forward David Skokan ('07), the most heralded of the undrafted prospects on the team, is sidelined day-to-day with a groin injury and unlikely to be at 100% for the opening games.

Defenseman and captain Andrej Sekera missed the final two exhibition games with an undisclosed injury, but is expected to be in the opening lineup. As is Juraj Gracik, who lost several teeth in the exhibition game against Latvia.

The Slovaks will rely heavily on the performance of Buffalo Sabres prospect Michal Valent between the pipes. Graduating from the Sparta Praha junior team, Valent made a successful jump to Czech senior hockey this season and is enjoying a fine rookie campaign as a starter for Czech Div I senior team Beroun.

Though not an elite netminder, Valent does however possess enough abilities to ensure goaltending isn't a weakness. Should backup Branislav Konrad see playing duty, watch out for the '06-eligible darkhorse as he is quietly climbing the rankings with his effective play and solid progress this fall.

Slovak Skyscrapers

Inspirational leader Andrej Sekera should anchor the Slovak defense and remains, healthy or not, one of the keys to success. The gritty two-way rearguard is accustomed to the smaller ice surface and should be able to contribute on the attack regularly, a trait often missing among a majority of Slovak rearguards.

One asset that won't be in short supply is size. The towering combo of Boris Valabik and Vladimir Mihalik are the tallest pairing in the tournament and should provide a boost with their conservative defensive play. Valabik in particular also adds a big flair of toughness.

Martin Grundling has been a pleasant surprise in the WHL this fall and the sizable blueliner is the prime candidate to elevate his play at this event among the Slovak backliners. Don't expect him to log huge minutes just yet, but Grundling should contribute defensive savvy and reliability.

A lack of depth could prove a downfall though as there's not much to get excited about among the support staff, who are unlikely to compensate if the top four are injured or spend too much time in the penalty box.

Deadly 'Q' Duo

Up front, a small core of key players will be leaned on extensively, with the high-flying QMJHL duo of Zagrapan and Stanislav Lascek as the prime weapons. The Chicoutimi imports are enjoying career seasons in North America with Lascek leading the league in scoring. Each bring nifty playmaking abilities to the mix and, despite their prevailing passing tendencies, are capable of scoring goals as well.

They are backed by the trio of Juraj Mikus, Juraj Gracik and Ladislav Scurko. Mikus is another smooth playmaker with Slovak Extraleague experience and a knack for finding the open man. The front lines lack a bonafide sniper however, which makes the loss of Tomanek all that more painful.

Juraj Gracik is the most likely to step up and grab the sniper role given the decent finishing ability he's shown back in Slovakia and also this fall for the WHL's Tri-City Americans. Ladislav Scurko is the frontrunner to assume the spot as a versatile all-round forward who works hard for the success of the team at both ends and can chip in decent offensive output.

Skokan is the most interesting draft-eligible prospect, though his injury status is uncertain. The late '88-born forward will have plenty of time to shine next year when he's sure to be the main Slovak attraction among the scouting community.

However, the lack of quality forward depth is a noticeable drawback that is which is going to limit the Slovaks against stronger teams. Their scoring will dry up if the opposition can shut down a relatively shallow core of quality offensive talent.