Rangers’ Adam Sykora helps Slovakia win second straight at 2024 WJC
Adam Sykora helped Slovakia improve to 2-0-0-0 at the 2024 World Junior Championship with a 3-0 win against Switzerland on Wednesday.
The New York Rangers forward prospect was held without a point but was a plus-two. Slovakia’s captain was on ice for two empty-net goals scored in the final two minutes of play — one by Peter Repcik at 18:19 of the third period, the other by Servac Petrovsky at 19:12.
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A committed two-way player, Sykora again was a part of all game situations Wednesday, which included protecting a one-goal lead after Switzerland pulled its goalie.
Sykora played 20:23, second among Slovakia forwards behind Repcik (21:19).
In a 6-2 win against Czechia on Tuesday, Sykora was originally credited with an assist on Repcik’s goal that made it 2-1 in the second period. However, a scoring change took Sykora’s point away.
Slovakia will play Norway in their next Group B preliminary round game Friday.
The 19-year-old was New York’s second-round pick (No. 63) in the 2022 NHL Draft. He has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 25 games with Hartford of the American Hockey League this season.
Fellow Rangers prospects Gabe Perreault and Drew Fortescue may have been watching Slovakia’s win closely Wednesday. Perreault and Fortescue are on the United States squad and will play against Switzerland on Thursday.
Perreault and Fortescue each had an assist when the U.S. won its first game, 4-1 against Norway on Tuesday. The United States does not have a game scheduled Wednesday.
The three Rangers prospects will face-off on New Year’s Eve when the United States plays Slovakia in the final preliminary game in Group B. The tournament quarterfinals take place Jan. 2.
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