Rangers prospect Adam Sykora helps Slovakia defeat Czechia to open 2024 WJC
Adam Sykora, a forward prospect with the New York Rangers, had an assist to help Slovakia to a 6-2 win against Czechia in the opening game of the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship on Tuesday.
With the score tied 1-1 late in the second period, Sykora earned the lone assist on Peter Repcik’s goal at 18:35. That score gave Slovakia its first lead and was the second of five consecutive goals they scored spanning the second and third periods.
Sykora was credited with an assist after Repcik scooped up a loose puck along the right-wing boards in the offensive zone, curled into the circle and wristed a shot that snuck through Czechia goalie Michael Hrabel. Repcik is a 2024 draft-eligible forward who plays for Drummondville in the QMJHL.
Related: Gabe Perreault and Team USA favored to win WJC
Adam Sykora gets Slovakia off to a good start
A second-round pick by the Rangers in the 2022 NHL Draft, Sykora led Slovakia forwards with 22:51 of ice time Tuesday, second overall on the team behind defenseman Maxim Strbak (23:32). He also took a high-sticking minor penalty at 5:39 of the first period, 26 seconds after Slovakia received the game’s first power play. Sykora finished with one shot on goal.
Sykora is Slovakia’s captain at this year’s tournament. He scored one goal in five games at the 2023 WJC.
He has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 25 games with the Rangers’ American Hockey League affiliate in Hartford this season.
Slovakia will continue Group B play Wednesday with a game against Switzerland. Sykora will face fellow Rangers prospects Gabe Perrault and Drew Fortescue when Slovakia skates against the United States on New Year’s Eve.
Perreault and Fortescue each had an assist to help the United States win their WJC opener, 4-1 against Norway on Tuesday.
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