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Anaheim Ducks Captain Gudas Apologizes for Hit on Matthews

Radko Gudas, captain of the Anaheim Ducks, has apologized for a controversial hit that resulted in a five-game suspension from the National Hockey League. The incident involved Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews, though specific details of the play were not disclosed. The NHL's disciplinary action reflects the severity of the incident, as five-game suspensions are typically reserved for significant violations of league rules regarding player safety.

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Sport

Slovakia Two Steps Away from First World Cup Since 2010

Slovak footballers are two steps away from qualifying for the World Cup finals for the first time in 16 years. The national team has not appeared at a World Cup since the 2010 tournament in South Africa, where they reached the round of 16 in their debut appearance. The current qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, represents Slovakia's best chance in over a decade to return to football's biggest stage. Slovakia defender David Hancko has warned his teammates about the threat posed by opposing striker Muriqi, suggesting upcoming crucial matches will determine whether the team can end their long World Cup absence.

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Slovak NHL Star Slafkovsky Extends Scoring Streak to Seven Games

Slovak forward Juraj Slafkovsky extended his point-scoring streak to seven games in the National Hockey League, playing a crucial role in the Montreal Canadiens' comeback victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. The 20-year-old contributed an assist on the game-tying goal that made it 2-2 and scored the game-winning goal in the 3-2 comeback from a 0-2 deficit, ultimately helping Montreal secure a 5-2 victory. Slafkovsky's continued strong performance has sparked debate in Canadian hockey media about whether his line with teammates Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield might currently be the best offensive unit in the NHL. The first overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft has exceeded expectations in his development, with analysts noting he appears to be outperforming his rookie contract value already in his second professional season.

Dennik N
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Sport

Former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko turns 50

Former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko celebrated his 50th birthday. The Ukrainian boxer dominated the heavyweight division for years as a multiple-time world champion and long-time holder of unified titles. Klitschko was one of boxing's most successful heavyweight champions, alongside his older brother Vitali, and held multiple championship belts simultaneously during his career before retiring from professional boxing.

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Garcia Plaza Appointed New Coach of Sevilla

Garcia Plaza has been named the new coach of Spanish football club Sevilla. The appointment marks a significant career development for Garcia Plaza, who began his coaching career at age 30 following a serious injury that ended his playing days.

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Slovan Defeats Liptovský Mikuláš in Third Game of Series

Slovan Bratislava defeated Liptovský Mikuláš in the third game of their playoff series, breaking a scoreless tie that had reflected an evenly matched contest until the 15th minute. The victory extends Slovan's success in what appears to be a hockey playoff series between the Bratislava-based team and their opponents from the Liptov region in northern Slovakia.

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Salah to Leave Liverpool at End of Season

Mohamed Salah will depart Liverpool at the end of the current season, leaving Anfield as one of the club's most decorated players. The Egyptian forward's exit marks the end of a highly successful tenure with the Premier League club, during which he established himself among Liverpool's greatest players through his numerous achievements and contributions to the team's success.

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Slovak goalkeeper Holec leaves Baník Ostrava as free agent

Slovak goalkeeper Dominik Holec has parted ways with Czech football club FC Baník Ostrava and is now a free agent. Holec made 32 appearances for the club and played a key role in their successful 2023-24 season, helping Baník secure third place in the Czech First League and qualify for the Europa League preliminary rounds. The departure makes the experienced keeper available for transfer to other clubs.

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Cross-Cultural Friendships in Alpine Skiing Transcend Competition

Two of the world's top alpine skiers have demonstrated that genuine friendships can exist between competitors at the highest level of sport. The relationship between these athletes from culturally mixed backgrounds goes beyond their shared passion for skiing, contrasting with other high-profile skiing rivalries where competitors have openly stated they cannot be friends while actively racing. The emotional bond between the skiers was particularly evident when one athlete's career ended, with his friend displaying visible grief comparable to a personal breakup. This friendship challenges the common assumption that elite athletes in individual sports cannot maintain close personal relationships while competing against each other for the sport's highest honors.

Dennik N
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Sport

Alpine Skiing Stars Show Deep Friendship Can Coexist with Athletic Rivalry

The relationship between top alpine skiing competitors demonstrates that fierce athletic rivalry and genuine friendship can coexist in professional sports. While some athletes like American ski star Mikaela Shiffrin and Slovak champion Petra Vlhová have openly stated they cannot be friends while actively competing—despite maintaining deep mutual respect—other cases show different dynamics. Vlhová and Shiffrin did develop a better personal understanding during Vlhová's extended injury period, when competitive pressures were temporarily removed. The contrast highlights how individual personalities and circumstances shape relationships between elite athletes, with some finding ways to maintain personal bonds despite the intense pressure of competing at the highest levels of their sport.

Dennik N
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Sport

Atletico Madrid's Alvarez reportedly agrees summer transfer to Arsenal

Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid has reportedly agreed to a summer transfer to Arsenal, according to emerging reports. The speculation about the Argentine forward's potential move to the London club first surfaced in January, suggesting ongoing negotiations between the clubs. Arsenal, currently competing in the Premier League and seeking to strengthen their attacking options, appears to have secured the player's consent for the transfer ahead of the upcoming summer window.

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Postponed Asian Champions League Round of 16 Matches to Be Held in Jeddah

The Asian Champions League has relocated its postponed round of 16 matches to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The knockout stage games were originally scheduled to take place during the first half of March across four different countries: Qatar, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The Asian Football Confederation's decision to consolidate the matches in a single Saudi Arabian city suggests logistical or scheduling issues led to the venue changes, though the specific reasons for the postponement were not detailed.

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Shiffrin Takes Commanding Lead After First Run of Hafjell Slalom

American ski racer Mikaela Shiffrin established a dominant lead after the first run of the World Cup slalom competition in Hafjell, Norway. The defending overall World Cup champion finished 1.10 seconds ahead of Switzerland's Wendy Holdener, putting her in prime position for victory heading into the second run.

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Prešov Appoints 34-Year-Old Erik Havrila as New Coach in Difficult Season

Erik Havrila has been appointed as the new head coach of Prešov football club, making the 34-year-old the youngest head coach currently managing a team in Slovakia's top-flight Niké Liga. Havrila acknowledged the significant responsibility he faces as he takes charge of the club during what appears to be a challenging period for the team. The appointment represents a notable gamble on youth in Slovak professional football, where coaching positions at the highest level are typically held by more experienced veterans.

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Slovakia to Send Only One Athlete to World Figure Skating Championships in Prague

Slovakia will have just one representative at the upcoming World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, marking a limited presence at the prestigious international competition. The championships will take place in the Czech Republic, bringing the culmination of the figure skating season to Czech soil for the first time in 33 years. The event represents a significant moment for Central European figure skating, as Prague hosts the world's top skaters competing for global titles.

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Slovak prospect Svečkov signs new two-year contract with Nashville Predators

Slovak hockey center Fedor Svečkov has agreed to a new two-year contract with the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League. The 21-year-old was originally selected by Nashville in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft with the 19th overall pick. Svečkov made his professional debut with the Predators in November 2024, marking his entry into North America's top hockey league after developing his skills in European leagues.

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Košice Names Sports Personality of the Year for 2025

Zuzana Paňková has been named the absolute winner of the Sports Personality of Košice competition for 2025. The annual award recognizes outstanding athletic achievement and contribution to sports in Slovakia's second-largest city and the regional center of eastern Slovakia.

Košice Dnes
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Hancko Wins 2025 Slovak Footballer of the Year Award

Dávid Hancko has been named Slovak Footballer of the Year for 2025. The award recognizes the best Slovak player across all levels of football. Separately, striker Leo Sauer, who plays for Dutch club Feyenoorde Rotterdam, received the Péter Dubovský Award, which honors young Slovak football talent.

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