Dano heads experienced Slovakia WJC camp list

Versatile forward Marko Dano, a first-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in June, heads the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation's preliminary 38-man roster of players competing for spots on the team that will participate in the IIHF 2014 World Junior Championship in Malmo, Sweden, later this month.

Slovakia head coach Ernest Bokros will have seven returnees in the mix, including goalie Richard Sabol of Slovakia Under-20, defensemen Richard Buri of the Minnesota Wilderness in the North American Hockey League, Patrik Luza and Tomas Rusina of HC Slovan Bratislava and forwards Dano of HC Slovan Bratislava, Milan Kolena of Slovakia U-20 and Martin Reway of the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Slovakia finished eighth in the 2013 WJC in Ufa, Russia.

The team has four players selected by NHL teams at the 2013 NHL Draft: forwards Dano (Columbus, No. 27), Peter Cehlarik (Boston Bruins, No. 90), Reway (Montreal Canadiens, No. 116) and Matej Paulovic (Dallas Stars, No. 149).

Dano will be making his third straight WJC appearance. As a 17-year-old, he had one goal and three points in six games at the 2012 WJC. He had four goals and a team-leading nine points in six games last year.

Slovakia's camp will take place at Bratislava Ice Stadium from Dec. 13-22. The club has two tune-up games prior to finalizing the 22-player roster against a pair of Slovak league teams -- Dukla Trencin on Dec. 20 and SHK 37 Piestany on Dec. 21. The 2014 WJC runs Dec. 26 through Jan. 5 in Malmo.

Slovakia will compete in Group A with the United States, Canada, Czech Republic and Germany.

The club also has four 2014 draft prospects who earned a C rating on NHL Central Scouting's December players to watch list: goalie Maximilian Pajpach of Slovakia U-18 and forwards Patrik Koys of Slovakia U-20, Robert Lantosi of Vasteras HK in Sweden and Pavol Skalicky of Slovakia U-20.

Follow Mike Morreale on Twitter at: @mikemorrealeNHL

SLOVAKIA SELECTION CAMP ROSTER

Goalies: Samuel Baros, HC Slovan Bratislava, SVK (2014 draft eligible); Denis Godla, HC Slovan Bratislava, SVK (2014); Maros Mikolas, Bystrica, SVK (2014); Maximilian Pajpach, Slovakia U18, SVK (2014); Richard Sabol, Slovakia U20, SVK (2014).

Defense: Patrik Bacik, Slovakia U20, SVK (2014); Richard Buri, Minnesota, NAHL (2014); Erik Cernak, HC Kosice, SVK (2016); Lubomir Dinda, Slovakia U20, SVK (2014); Daniel Gachulinec, Slovakia U20, SVK (2014); Martin Keckes, Karlovy Vary, CZE (2014); Patrik Luza, Bratislava, SVK (2014); Patrik Maier, Slovakia U18, SVK (2015); Jakub Predajniansky, Slovakia U20, SVK (2014); Mislav Rosandic, Banska Bystrica, SVK (2014); Tomas Rusina, Bratislava, SVK (2014); Denis Simek, Karlovy Vary, CZE (2014); Michal Valjent, Bratislava, SVK (2014).

Forwards: Peter Cehlarik, Lulea HF, SWE (Boston); Marko Dano, Bratislava, SVK (Columbus); Rastislav Gaspar, Slovakia U20, SVK (2014); David Griger, Karlovy Vary, CZE (2014); Stanislav Horansky, Slovakia U20, SVK (2014); Kristian Horvat, Slovakia U20, SVK (2014); Milan Kolena, Slovakia U20, SVK (2014); Patrik Koys, Slovakia U20, SVK (2014); Robert Lantosi, Vasteras HK, SWE (2014); Mario Lunter, Banska Bystrica, SVK (2014); David Minarik, Slovakia U20, SVK (2014); Filip Mlyncar, Bratislava, SVK (2014); Matej Paulovic, Peterborough Petes, OHL (Dallas); Dominik Rehak, Slovakia U20, SVK (2014); Martin Reway, Gatineau Olympiques, QMJHL (Montreal); Daniel Rzavsky, Bratislava, SVK (2014); Eduard Simun, Banska Bystrica, SVK (2014); Pavol Skalicky, Slovakia U20, SVK (2014); David Soltes, Prince George, WHL (2014); Jozef Tibensky, Bratislava, SVK (2014).