The Slovakian hockey program has always punched above its weight, turning in some of the more memorable performances at the World Junior Hockey Championships. They went from the third division in 1994 to being a mainstay in the Top Division in 1996.
They have had their relegation scares, including twice in their first five years at the top level. In what is emblematic of their history of this tournament, those two scares just happened to be bookended around their first bronze medal.
Slovakia’s medal history has been historically tied to star players and great goaltending.