Kmec Named to Team Slovakia Roster for 2022 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship

December 24, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release

Prince George Cougars defenceman Viliam Kmec
(Prince George Cougars, Credit: James Doyle)

PRINCE GEORGE, BC - Prince George Cougars 2004-born defenceman Viliam Kmec has been named to Slovakia's roster for the 2022 World Junior Hockey Championship.

Kmec is one 25 players named to Team Slovakia and one of three from the WHL. The other two Marko Stacha (Kamloops) and Jakub Demek (Edmonton).

The 17-year-old is third highest scoring defenceman on the Cougars' roster with 13 points (2g-11a) in 25 regular season games. The product of Košice, SVK was selected by Prince George in the second round, 104th overall, in the 2021 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.

Kmec has previous international experience, as he helped Slovakia win their first ever silver medal at the 2021 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup in August. He also has a long history playing with Slovakia's Under 16 and Under 18 programs.

This marks the second consecutive year the Cougars will be represented at the World Junior Hockey Championship. In 2021, forward Filip Koffer played for the Czech Republic.

The 2022 World Junior Hockey Championship, cohosted in Edmonton and Red Deer, AB, opens on Boxing Day and runs through to Jan 5th. Slovakia is in Group B with Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. Slovakia opens their tournament on Boxing Day against the U.S.

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Prince George Cougars defenceman Viliam Kmec
(James Doyle)

Western Hockey League Stories from December 24, 2021

Kmec Named to Team Slovakia Roster for 2022 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship - Prince George Cougars

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