# Slovenia men's national ice hockey team

The Slovenia men's national ice hockey team is the ice hockey team representing Slovenia internationally. It is governed by the Ice Hockey Federation of Slovenia. As of May 2024, Slovenia is ranked 19th in the world by the IIHF World Ranking. The team's biggest success is reaching the quarter-finals at the 2014 Winter Olympics. Their best record at the Ice Hockey World Championships is 13th place, achieved in 2002 and 2005.
Seven players from Slovenia have been drafted into the National Hockey League (NHL) since 1998; Anže Kopitar and Jan Muršak have played in the league.

## History

Before Slovenia's independence, Slovenian hockey players played for the Yugoslavia national team. From 1939, when Yugoslavia took part in its first World Championship, to 1991, when the country disintegrated, 91% of all Yugoslav national team members were Slovenes, including the entire squad that represented Yugoslavia at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo.
Slovenia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, and joined the International Ice Hockey Federation the following year. They first played as an independent nation at the 1993 World Championship, hosting the Group C tournament, the lowest tier. They played in the elite division for the first time in 2002, and at their first Winter Olympics in 2014.

## Tournament record
### Olympic Games

| Year | Round | Position | GP | W | OW | OL | L | GS | GA |
| 1964–1991 | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia |
| 1992 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1994 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1998 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2002 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2006 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2010 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2014 | Quarter-finals | 7th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 16 |
| 2018 | Playoffs | 9th | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 14 |
| 2022 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2026 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| Total | | 0 Titles | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 19 | 30 |

### World Championship

Key :
* Promoted to higher division
* Relegated to lower division
| Championship | GP | W | OW | T | OL | L | GS | GA | Coach | Captain | Finish | Rank |
| 1920 – 1992 | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia | Part of Yugoslavia |
| 1993 Bled and Ljubljana, Pool C | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 78 | 16 | Rudi Hiti | | 4th in Pool C | 24th |
| 1994 Poprad and Spišská Nová Ves, Pool C | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 26 | 27 | Rudi Hiti | | 5th in Pool C | 25th |
| 1995 Sofia, Pool C | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 28 | 15 | Rudi Hiti | | 7th in Pool C | 27th |
| 1996 Jesenice and Kranj, Pool C | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 41 | 19 | Vladimir Krikunov | | 3rd in Pool C | 23rd |
| 1997 Tallinn and Kohtla-Järve, Pool C | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 25 | 8 | Pavle Kavčič | | 2nd in Pool C | 22nd |
| 1998 Ljubljana and Jesenice, Pool B | 7 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 28 | 15 | Pavle Kavčič | | 2nd in Pool B | 18th |
| 1999 Odense and Rodovre, Pool B | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 17 | Pavle Kavčič | | 5th in Pool B | 21st |
| 2000 Katowice, Pool B | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 16 | 31 | Rudi Hiti | | 7th in Pool B | 23rd |
| 2001 Ljubljana, Division IB | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 6 | Matjaž Sekelj | | Winners | 17th |
| 2002 Gothenburg, Karlstad, Jönköping | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 26 | Matjaž Sekelj | | Consolation round | 13th |
| 2003 Helsinki, Tampere, Turku | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 37 | Matjaž Sekelj | | Consolation round | 15th |
| 2004 Gdańsk, Division IB | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 5 | Kari Savolainen | Tomaž Vnuk | Winners | 17th |
| 2005 Vienna, Innsbruck | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 32 | Kari Savolainen | Robert Ciglenečki | Relegation round | 13th |
| 2006 Riga | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 26 | František Výborný | Dejan Varl | Relegation round | 16th |
| 2007 Ljubljana, Division IB | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 29 | 5 | Ted Sator | Marcel Rodman | Winners | 17th |
| 2008 Quebec City, Halifax | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 4 | 6 | 22 | Mats Waltin | Marcel Rodman | Relegation round | 15th |
| 2009 Vilnius, Division IA | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 1 | 21 | 7 | John Harrington | Tomaž Razingar | 2nd in Division IA | 19th |
| 2010 Ljubljana, Division IB | 5 | 4 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 29 | 10 | John Harrington | Tomaž Razingar | Winners | 18th |
| 2011 Bratislava, Košice | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 4 | 15 | 24 | Matjaž Kopitar | Tomaž Razingar | Relegation round | 16th |
| 2012 Ljubljana, Division IA | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 17 | 9 | Matjaž Kopitar | Tomaž Razingar | Winners | 17th |
| 2013 Stockholm, Helsinki | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 5 | 12 | 27 | Matjaž Kopitar | Tomaž Razingar | Preliminary round | 16th |
| 2014 Goyang, Division IA | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 1 | 15 | 6 | Matjaž Kopitar | Tomaž Razingar | Winners | 17th |
| 2015 Prague, Ostrava | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 6 | 9 | 22 | Matjaž Kopitar | Tomaž Razingar | Preliminary round | 16th |
| 2016 Katowice, Division IA | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 1 | 18 | 8 | Nik Zupančič | Jan Urbas | Winners | 17th |
| 2017 Cologne, Paris | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 6 | 13 | 36 | Nik Zupančič | Jan Muršak | Preliminary round | 15th |
| 2018 Budapest, Division IA | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 3 | 15 | 15 | Kari Savolainen | Jan Urbas | 5th in Division IA | 21st |
| 2019 Nur-Sultan, Division IA | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 3 | 21 | 12 | Ivo Jan | Anže Kopitar | 4th in Division IA | 20th |
| 2020 Ljubljana, Division IA | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021 Ljubljana, Division IA | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2022 Ljubljana, Division IA | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 22 | 5 | Matjaž Kopitar | Mitja Robar | Winners | 17th |
| 2023 Tampere, Riga | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 7 | 9 | 27 | Matjaž Kopitar | Jan Urbas | Preliminary round | 16th |
| 2024 Bolzano, Division IA | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 2 | 14 | 8 | Edo Terglav | Robert Sabolič | 2nd in Division IA | 18th |
| 2025 Stockholm, Herning | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Team
### Current roster

Roster for the 2023 IIHF World Championship.
Head coach: Matjaž Kopitar
| No. | Pos. | Name | Height | Weight | Birthdate | Team |
| 4 | D | Aleksandar Magovac | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | 88 kg (194 lb) | (1991-02-09) 9 February 1991 (age 34) | HK Olimpija |
| 6 | D | Miha Štebih | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | 92 kg (203 lb) | (1992-04-07) 7 April 1992 (age 32) | Nice hockey Côte d'Azur |
| 8 | F | Žiga Jeglič | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 80 kg (180 lb) | (1988-02-24) 24 February 1988 (age 37) | Fischtown Pinguins |
| 12 | F | Nik Simšič | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | 90 kg (200 lb) | (1997-03-12) 12 March 1997 (age 28) | HK Olimpija |
| 14 | D | Matic Podlipnik | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | 83 kg (183 lb) | (1992-08-09) 9 August 1992 (age 32) | Fischtown Pinguins |
| 15 | D | Blaž Gregorc | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | 95 kg (209 lb) | (1990-01-18) 18 January 1990 (age 35) | Augsburger Panther |
| 17 | D | Žiga Pavlin – A | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | 97 kg (214 lb) | (1985-04-30) 30 April 1985 (age 39) | HC Pustertal Wölfe |
| 18 | F | Ken Ograjenšek | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | 75 kg (165 lb) | (1991-08-30) 30 August 1991 (age 33) | Graz 99ers |
| 19 | F | Žiga Pance | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 89 kg (196 lb) | (1989-01-01) 1 January 1989 (age 36) | HK Olimpija |
| 21 | F | Jan Drozg | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 82 kg (181 lb) | (1999-04-01) 1 April 1999 (age 25) | Amur Khabarovsk |
| 24 | F | Rok Tičar – A | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | 82 kg (181 lb) | (1989-05-03) 3 May 1989 (age 35) | EC KAC |
| 26 | F | Jan Urbas – C | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | 98 kg (216 lb) | (1989-01-26) 26 January 1989 (age 36) | Fischtown Pinguins |
| 32 | G | Gašper Krošelj | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 86 kg (190 lb) | (1987-02-09) 9 February 1987 (age 38) | BK Mladá Boleslav |
| 33 | G | Žan Us | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | 78 kg (172 lb) | (1996-06-10) 10 June 1996 (age 28) | HK Olimpija |
| 35 | G | Luka Gračnar | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | 83 kg (183 lb) | (1993-10-31) 31 October 1993 (age 31) | EV Landshut |
| 44 | D | Aljoša Crnovič | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | 85 kg (187 lb) | (1999-04-16) 16 April 1999 (age 25) | HK Olimpija |
| 45 | F | Luka Maver | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | 87 kg (192 lb) | (1997-10-25) 25 October 1997 (age 27) | Pioneers Vorarlberg |
| 55 | F | Robert Sabolič | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 90 kg (200 lb) | (1988-09-18) 18 September 1988 (age 36) | EC VSV |
| 76 | D | Kristjan Čepon | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) | 100 kg (220 lb) | (1995-11-12) 12 November 1995 (age 29) | HK Olimpija |
| 81 | F | Tadej Čimžar | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 80 kg (180 lb) | (1992-04-21) 21 April 1992 (age 32) | HK Olimpija |
| 88 | F | Miha Zajc | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 90 kg (200 lb) | (1996-12-08) 8 December 1996 (age 28) | HK Olimpija |
| 91 | F | Miha Verlič | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) | 85 kg (187 lb) | (1991-08-21) 21 August 1991 (age 33) | Fischtown Pinguins |
| 92 | F | Anže Kuralt | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | 80 kg (180 lb) | (1991-10-31) 31 October 1991 (age 33) | Fehérvár AV19 |
| 96 | D | Bine Mašič | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | 75 kg (165 lb) | (2002-11-14) 14 November 2002 (age 22) | Vaasan Sport |
| 98 | F | Blaž Tomaževič | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | 75 kg (165 lb) | (1997-10-14) 14 October 1997 (age 27) | EC VSV |

### Coaching history

* Rudi Hiti (1992–1995)
* Vladimir Krikunov (1995–1996)
* Pavle Kavčič (1996–1999)
* Rudi Hiti (1999–2000)
* Matjaž Sekelj (2001–2003)
* Kari Savolainen (2003–2005)
* František Výborný (2005–2006)
* Ted Sator (2006–2007)
* Mats Waltin (2007–2008)
* John Harrington (2009–2010)
* Matjaž Kopitar (2010–2015)
* Nik Zupančič (2015–2017)
* Kari Savolainen (2017–2018)
* Ivo Jan (2018–2019)
* Matjaž Kopitar (2019–2023)
* Edo Terglav (2023–present)

### NHL Entry Draft

Players from Slovenia selected in the NHL Entry Draft.
| Year | Name | Overall | Team |
| 1998 | Edo Terglav | 249th overall | Buffalo Sabres |
| 2000 | Jure Penko | 203rd overall | Nashville Predators |
| 2001 | Marcel Rodman | 282nd overall | Boston Bruins |
| 2005 | Anže Kopitar | 11th overall | Los Angeles Kings |
| 2006 | Jan Muršak | 182nd overall | Detroit Red Wings |
| 2017 | Jan Drozg | 152nd overall | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 2024 | Jan Goličič | 118th overall | Tampa Bay Lightning |