Slovakia’s goaltender Adam Gajan delivered an exceptional performance with a 36-save shutout, leading his team to a 3-0 victory over Switzerland in the World Junior Championship at Frolundaborg. Samuel Honzek’s goal in the first period proved decisive, marking Slovakia’s first 2-0 start at the World Juniors since 2002.
The match opened with a relatively calm first period, characterized by limited scoring opportunities, primarily against the Swiss. A notable moment came when Swiss defender Rodwin Dionicio’s risky pass was intercepted by Slovak Peter Repcik, whose powerful shot was expertly saved by Swiss goalie Alessio Beglieri. The deadlock was broken by Honzek, who capitalized on Repcik’s setup at 8:33.
Switzerland, under Coach Marcel Jenni’s guidance, returned with renewed vigor in the second period, dominating play and effectively neutralizing Slovakia’s offensive thrusts. Despite this, they were unable to equalize, and Slovakia nearly extended their lead when Honzek was awarded a penalty shot but failed to convert.
Swiss efforts to level the score were continually thwarted by Gajan’s remarkable goaltending, particularly evident in his stops against Leo Braillard’s close-range attempts. The third period saw continued Swiss pressure, with Gregory Weber and Miles Muller missing critical chances to score. Even a short-handed breakaway by Rico Gredig didn’t yield the much-needed Swiss goal.
Slovakia’s Repcik and Servac Petrovsky eventually sealed their team’s victory with empty-net goals, despite Switzerland’s sustained dominance in play for significant periods.
With this win, Slovakia takes a day off before their next game against Norway, while Switzerland faces a challenging encounter against the United States in their next game at Frolundaborg. This victory not only showcases Slovakia’s defensive resilience but also sets a promising tone for their campaign in the tournament.
