Top standouts from Slovakia vs. Switzerland at 2024 World Junior Championship
Slovakia has improved to 2-0 at the World Junior Championship after beating Switzerland 3-0 on Wednesday afternoon in Sweden to kick off Group B play on Day 2.
The Slovaks have cemented themselves well now in the standings as the first team to post a perfect record, and with just two more preliminary round games to go. Switzerland will look to bounce back with a meeting against the United States at 11:00 AM ET on Thursday, with the Americans looking to build upon their 4-1 win over Norway on Tuesday.
The rested Swiss were the much better team in this game, but they ran into something the big dogs from 2023 found last year: a red-hot goaltender in Adam Gajan. He stopped all 36 shots sent his way, including some high-quality chances in the second half as the Swiss tried to wear down a tired Slovak team. But a goal from Samuel Honzek in the first period proved to be all Slovakia needed, closing out the game with the victory.
Here’s a look at the top performers from Wednesday’s contest:
Slovakia
#30 Adam Gajan, G (Chicago Blackhawks): After a great display against the Czechs, Gajan upped the ante with one of his more laser-focused efforts from the past two years. He was busy with 25 shots over the first 40 minutes as the rested Swiss team tried to lay on the pressure, but Gajan was up for the task. His glove save on Gregory Weber less than five minutes into the third period was a game-saver, for sure.
#27 Samuel Honzek, LW (Calgary Flames): Honzek looks like a man on a mission on Slovakia’s third line. After scoring his first tournament goal against the Czechs on Tuesday, he scored the lone goal of the first period today and then drew a penalty shot after getting hooked on a shorthanded breakaway. Honzek landed hits, generated scoring chances and was generally dangerous most times he hit the ice. It’s what you expect from one of Slovakia’s most NHL-ready-looking prospects.
#21 Peter Repcik, C (Undrafted): Repcik did most of the work on the 1-0 goal, fighting past three Swiss players before banking the shot off Beglieri and onto Honzek’s stick for the goal. He rushed the puck up the ice today with purpose, helped out defensively and brought speed to Slovakia’s third line. The empty netter at the end was a nice touch. Scouts are watching.
Switzerland
#29 Alessio Beglieri, G (Undrafted): While Beglieri wasn’t as busy as Gajan, he still made some key stops. Honzek’s goal was a bad bounce that originated from a tough angle, but Beglieri looked quicker in the crease than I remember him from his Mississauga Steelheads days.
#5 Leo Braillard, LW (Undrafted): I loved how engaged physically Braillard was. He’s never afraid to mix it up, creating havoc around the offensive zone. He also had three shots in the first 40 minutes while being the play driver on Switzerland’s young, but feisty third line. He’s always had a bit of an edge, but it’s good to see that he was engaged in all facets of the game while also displaying some nice moves with the puck – giving him a bit more to offer when the goals aren’t going in.
#22 Gregory Weber, RW (Undrafted): I liked Weber’s presence around the Slovak net. While he didn’t produce anything on the scoresheet, he had some good looks, but just nothing seemed to work out. At least the effort was there.
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