Slovakia, Regenda Qualify for 2026 Olympics

Slovakia’s males’s ice hockey crew participated in a three-game round-robin event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1 in Bratislava, Slovakia, with the winner of which qualifying for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy Feb. 6 by means of Feb. 22, 2026.

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Slovakia emerged victorious in each sport, successful 2-1 towards Austria, 7-3 towards Hungary, and 3-1 towards Kazakhstan.

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Slovakia will play in “Group C” on the 2026 Olympics and match up towards the USA, Russia (ought to they take part), and Latvia. If Russia does not take part, France will exchange them.

Anaheim Ducks ahead Pavol Regenda (24) represented Slovakia in a third-line position on the event and performed on the crew’s prime energy play unit. He completed the three video games with two targets on 11 photographs and 12 penalty minutes.

“It’s actually bizarre,” Regenda told The Hockey News’ Derek O’Brien concerning enjoying such necessary video games right now of yr. “But it surely’s a terrific take a look at after summer season. It’s good for me heading into coaching camp in Anaheim, and I believe this can assist me so far as conditioning, and having large sport expertise. That’s good for me and I’ve to make use of that to my benefit.”

The 6-foot-4, 212-pound Regenda has represented Slovakia at three consecutive IIHF World Championships from 2022 to 2024, scoring 14 factors in 23 video games. Moreover, he made Slovakia’s Olympic roster for the 2022 Winter Olympic Video games in Beijing, China, the place he scored 4 factors in seven video games en path to a bronze medal.

The most probably fellow Geese gamers to take part within the 2026 Olympics are Leo Carlsson for Sweden, Urho Vaakanainen for Finland, Radko Gudas for Czechia, and Lukas Dostal for Czechia.

Ducks Sign Regenda to One-Year Contract

Regenda was signed to a two-year contract carrying an AAV of $855K with the Geese earlier than the 2022-23 season. In his two seasons within the group, he is performed 19 NHL video games, tallying a objective and two assists whereas averaging 10:49 TOI.

He is discovered extra substantial success within the AHL with the San Diego Gulls, scoring 32 targets and 59 factors in 104 profession video games.

On July 5, Regenda signed a one-year contract extension with the Geese that can carry an AAV of $775K. He’ll stay waiver-exempt for the 2024-25 season and an RFA upon expiry.

Ducks forward to help Slovakia qualify for 2026 Olympics

Regenda appears to epitomize the traits Geese Basic Supervisor Pat Verbeek prioritizes with forwards on the backside of the lineup; north/south tendencies, heavy and disruptive forechecking, and relentless but skillful acumen across the web and in small areas of the ice.

An damage induced him to overlook six weeks from Nov. 29 to Jan 10 in 2023-24 however scored at a 25-goal tempo.

“My objective is simply to have a terrific camp and match into the lineup and be a full-season participant,” Regenda mentioned. “I believe I can play within the NHL and I do know what I’ve to do to be there. That’s what I’ve been specializing in all summer season, and that’s what I’ve to point out them.”

With a robust coaching camp and Verbeek’s need so as to add manufacturing on the backside of the Geese’ lineup, Regenda might see important time within the NHL in 2024-25, however will most probably begin the season within the AHL with the Gulls.

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