Slovakia

Slovakia is a country in Central Europe. Bratislava is the capital and largest city. Slovakia was part of Czechoslovakia until becoming independent in 1993.

History of hockey in Slovakia
The first organized game of ice hockey in Slovakia was held in 1921. In 1924, CSSK Bratislava played Slovakia's first international game, being defeated by the Austrian club, Wiener EV. The Tatra Cup, Europe's second-oldest ice hockey tournament, was first held in 1929. The first indoor ice rink in Slovakia opened in 1940.

The Slovakia Hockey Union was founded in 1930, and it joined the Czech Hockey Union to form the Czechoslovak Hockey Union in 1931. As Czechoslovakia was disintegrating, the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation was founded in 1992, and Slovakia joined the IIHF on February 2, 1993.

While part of Czechoslovakia, Slovak teams won the Czechoslovak Extraliga three times. Between 1939 and 1944, the Slovak League was contested. VS Bratislava, SK Bratislava, and OAP Bratislava each won the league twice. The Slovak Extraliga was first contested in the 1993-94 season. HC Slovan Brarislava has won eight league titles, and HC Kosice has won seven. The Slovak 1. Liga is the second level league, and the Slovak 2. Liga operates as the third level league.

The men's national team played its first international game in 1940, losing 12-0 to the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia in Garmisch-Patenkirchen. They first participated in the World Championships in 1994, winning the Pool C tournament. They won Pool B the following year, and made their debut in the top division in 1996, where they have played ever since. In 2002, they won the gold medal at the World Championships by defeating Russia 4-3 in the final. In addition, they have won the silver medal in 2000 and 2012, and the bronze medal in 2003. The national team has participated in the Olympics five times, with their best finish being fourth place in 2010. They have played in the World Cup of Hockey in 1996 and 2004, finishing no better than seventh in either of the tournaments.

The women's national team participated in the European Championships in 1995 and 1996, finishing in fourth place in Pool B both times. In 1997, they participated in the Pre-Qualification tournament for the 1999 Women's World Championships. In 1999, they finished in sixth place in the B Pool. Their best finish at the Women's World Championships was seventh overall in 2011. The women's national team made an appearance at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, where they finished in eighth place. In the qualification tournament for the Olympics, they defeated Bulgaria by a score of 82-0. The women's U18 national team has played in the Women's World U18 Championships since 2009.

The junior national team first participated in the World Junior Championships in 1994. In 1993, Czechoslovakia was dissolved during the tournament, the team remained unified throughout the tournament, but the Czechoslovakian flag and anthem were retired in favor of the IIHF logo. They won Pool C of the world juniors in 1994, and Pool B the following year, and made their debut in the top division in 1996. Their best result was a bronze medal in 1999.