Slovak Hockey Fan Arrested During Olympic Match

While the Slovak men’s hockey team kicked off the Olympics with a victory, one fan faced a significant setback.

A 44-year-old Slovakian man was taken into custody on Wednesday. Reports indicate he had been eager to witness the game between Slovakia and Finland, marking his return after 16 years of evading authorities.

The man’s troubles began back in 2010 when the Italian police placed him on a wanted list due to various shoplifting accusations, as shared by local Carabinieri. He mentioned, in a statement to Reuters, that he had decided to come back to Italy.

Despite his legal issues, he made his way back on Wednesday to see his national team play during the 2026 Winter Olympics. Authorities arrested him at a guesthouse on the edge of Milan right before the match.

After his apprehension, he was moved to San Vittore prison, all before the game began at the Santa Giulia Arena.

According to reports, he received a sentence of 11 months and seven days for his past theft offenses.

In a stroke of irony, Slovakia triumphed over the usual gold medal favorites, Finland, with a score of 4-1, despite predictions painting them as heavy underdogs.

Slovakia had just missed out on a bronze medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and for the 2026 games, they’re fielding only seven NHL players, which complicates matters against stronger teams.

Juraj Slavkowski, a winger from Canada, shined in this match, netting two goals and contributing to his total of nine points in these Olympics. Goalkeeper Samuel Flavay also stood out, blocking 39 of 40 shots.

Next on Slovakia’s agenda is a matchup against Italy on Friday, followed by a final qualifying game against Sweden on Saturday.

It seems the best chance for Slovakia to secure an Olympic medal lies with the hockey team, especially after a close call in the women’s mountaineering event.

As of now, Slovakia has yet to bring home any medals from the 2026 Olympics.