In a surprising finish, Slovenia men’s hockey team knocked out the men’s team from Slovakia to get the country’s first Olympic win in the Sochi Games Saturday. After scoring three goals in a span on six minutes, the 17th ranked team in the world defeated Slovakia 3-1.
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his was Slovenia’s first Olympic appearance in hockey and earned there spot at the Games after beating Belarus, Ukraine, and Denmark in 2013’s qualifying tournament according to the San Francisco Gate. Coming from a country of less than 2 million people, Slovenia has one NHL player, Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings, on their team. Slovakia, thought to have been a metal contender, boasts 13 NHL players according to USA Today.
"It's definitely a big thing for Slovenia hockey and now that we beat Slovakia, maybe people will not mix us up any more," said Kopitar.
Slovenia entered the third period without having scored however quickly changed that within the first 10 minutes when Rok Ticar, captain, Tomaz Razingar, and Kopitar scored to win the game.
After their loss this brings Slovakia to 0-2 after falling to the U.S in their Olympic opener. Slovakia placed in fourth and fifth at the last two Olympics.
Slovenia will play the United States next and Slovakia will take on Russia Sunday.