Slovakia makes history in first round of 2022 NHL Draft

MONTREAL --Juraj Slafkovsky and Simon Nemec made history at the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft on Thursday, becoming the highest drafted Slovakian-born players when they were selected No. 1 by the Montreal Canadiens and No. 2 by the New Jersey Devils.

They passed Marian Gaborik, who was selected No. 3 by the Minnesota Wild in the 2000 NHL Draft.
"Yeah, I think out of 5 million people, at least like four are up and they are cheering for us," Slafkovsky said. "At the end of the day, that's important. We are from Slovakia, and we represent the country, and I'm just happy that this happened to us."
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Slafkovsky, who was No. 1 in NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of International skaters, had 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 31 regular-season games for TPS in Liiga, Finland's top professional league, and seven points (two goals, five assists) in 18 playoff games. The forward was also voted the most valuable player of the 2022 Beijing Olympics, when he scored seven goals to help Slovakia win the bronze medal, the country's first.
That came six months after Slovakia finished second in the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where Nemec, a defenseman, was named MVP of the tournament.
"Finally, we draft first overall and second. Amazing year," Nemec said. "Last year was really good for Slovakia. We won bronze medal, we were second in Hlinka, and now first and second overall. Amazing year.
"[Slovakia is] small, but we have really good players. Now more and more players will be better like we are. Everybody is proud, and we're proud, too."

Marko Dano was the last player from Slovakia to be chosen in the first round, going No. 27 to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2013 NHL Draft. Prior to that, only 10 Slovakian players had ever been picked in first round, and just four in the top 10: Boris Valabik (No. 10, Atlanta Thrashers, 2004), Gaborik, Branislav Mezei (No. 10, New York Islanders, 1999) and Robert Petrovicky (No. 9, Hartford Whalers, 1992).
That Slafkovsky was the one to make history on Thursday is a moment he won't soon forget, even if in the moment it was all a blur.
"I think I didn't even hear my name called," he said. "I just heard 'Slovakia,' and then I was like shocked, and I didn't even listen anymore. I was just like shaking. I had goose bumps. Yeah, unbelievable moment for me."
The excitement and emotions of the night grew even more later in the draft after the Canadiens selected another player from Slovakia, this time taking forward Filip Mesar at No. 26.
As Mesar walked off the floor toward the media area, he was greeted by Slafkovsky and Nemec with hugs so tight that their draft caps were knocked loose.
"It feels amazing," Mesar said. "I don't have any words of that. So yeah, like I said, with three with Simon and Juraj, we are best friends and know each other very well. So yeah, amazing feeling. I don't have any words."

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