2001 IIHF World Junior Championship

After winning their first WJC medal - a bronze in Winnipeg in 1999 - the Slovaks had to recall their 1999 coach Jan Filc to Sweden halfway through the 2000 tournament when the team got off to a terrible start. This time Slovakia is putting the reins in the hands of Joseph Fruhauf, who is building his team on two solid goaltenders - Peter Hamerlik of the OHL Kingston Frontenacs and Peter Budaj of Toronto's St. Michael's Majors. Defenseman Rene Vydareny practised with the Vancouver Canucks during a rights dispute between Vancouver and a Slovak club, but now is playing with Kansas City of the IHL. He'll be released to play in the tournament. Up front, Marcel Hossa, younger brother of Ottawa Senators' star Marian, and teammate Josef Balej of the WHL Portland Winter Hawks represent a dynamic duo. Milan Bartovic of the Brandon Wheat Kings, Tomas Kopecky of the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Tomas Skvaridlo of the Kingston Frontenacs are also dangerous around the net.