Calgary Flames sparkplug forward Martin Pospisil has confirmed he will represent Slovakia at an Olympic qualifying tournament later this month after he’d warned that he might skip the event because he wasn’t sure he would be comfortable skating alongside players from the Russia-based KHL.
That was, understandably, major news in Slovakia. Pospisil, who emerged as a fan favourite in his rookie campaign with the Flames, is one of the few NHLers who had already been named to the roster.
On Sunday, issuing a joint statement with his older brother, Pospisil announced that he would be suiting up for the four-team showdown, with the winning squad earning an invite to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
“I’m sure you haven’t missed the information lately asking if we brothers will play for the Slovak national team as part of qualifying for the Olympics,” wrote Martin and Kristian Pospisil, according to a translation, in a message that both posted on their Instagram accounts. “We have already said enough about the players from the KHL and their participation in the national team, and it is known what our attitude is. It is up to each of you to form an opinion on the given matter and behave according to it and also believe what is right. WE HAVE NOT CHANGED OUR OPINION!!!!
“But our desire to represent Slovakia and help achieve the best possible results is a priority for us, as well as the desire to play together. We are athletes, and we have shown many times how sports can unite our society. We believe that we will do it again with the best possible performances and once again please Slovakia and every single Slovak who is a fan of sports and our return.”
In protest of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Slovakia is one of several countries that has avoided selecting KHLers for recent international competitions. However, the national federation changed its policy in early August.
The 24-year-old Pospisil, one of Slovakia’s standouts at the world championship tournament in May, told Dennik Sport that he was “surprised by the news” and needed some time to process the information and discuss it with those closest to him.
“I am a person who has moral principles that are difficult to cross,” Pospisil told Dennik Sport, according to a translation. “I don’t want to divide society or people in the hockey association, but the information is not pleasant. I have to deal with it and make a final decision.
He added in that same interview: “After my career, I would like to live here (in Slovakia) and raise children. That’s why I’m thinking about how I will behave now, because with my attitude I can also influence the future youth. I love hockey and the national team but, at the moment, it’s difficult.”
On social media and message boards, many Flames supporters were applauding Pospisil for speaking out.
Meanwhile, fans in Slovakia were relieved to ultimately hear that he and Kristian will be in the lineup as they host Austria, Hungary and Kazakhstan for a win-and-you’re-in qualifier in Bratislava. The tournament is slated for Aug. 29-Sept. 1.
After notching eight goals and 24 points and racking up a team-high 238 hits and 109 penalty minutes as a rookie, Pospisil will play an important role for the Flames in his sophomore season.
His older brother Kristian, a fellow forward who helped Slovakia to a bronze medal at Beijing 2022, skates for HC Kometa Brno in Czechia.