Signed as a free agent by the Minnesota Wild on April 5, 2024, Hlavaj, who plays for Iowa in the American Hockey League, is an integral part of the Slovak national team. In qualifying for these Olympics, he went 3-0-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage.
Hlajav set the record for most saves by a Slovak team goalie at an Olympic Games featuring NHL players, breaking the previous mark set by Jan Laco (37 saves against Russia on February 16, 2014).
“He was fantastic throughout the game.” said Dvorsky, who at age 20 became the youngest Slovak player to score at the Olympics with NHL players. “He made some huge saves, saves that most goalkeepers can’t make. He’s a world-class goalkeeper and he showed that today.”
Slovakia won a bronze medal four years ago, thanks in large part to Slafkovsky’s heroics. But this tournament was missing NHL players.
But after blowing away Finland, Slovakia is dreaming big again.
“It shows that when you (use) the system you put in place before the match and you do it 100 percent and everyone buys in, you can beat anyone in this tournament,” the Slovak captain said. Thomas Tatar said.
