Prince George Cougars defenceman Viliam Kmec will be hitting the ice with Team Slovakia at the 2022 World Junior Hockey Championships in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta.
Kmec, 17, was drafted by the Cougars this year. Originally from Košice, Slovakia, Kmec has notched 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in 25 regular season games with the Cats. Howver, Kmec was kept off the scoreboard in the team's first game.
Slovakia opened the tournament with a 3-2 loss to the United States on Sunday. Kmec and his teammates are scheduled to play Sweden in Red Deer on Monday night at 6:30 p.m. Pacific time.
The Slovaks will finish their preliminary round-robin play against Russia on Wednesday and Switzerland on Thursday.
Kmec is playing alongside fellow WHL defenceman Marko Stacha of the Kamloops Blazers and Edmonton Oil Kings forward Jakub Demek.
The Cougar’s D-man has previously suited up for Team Slovakia. He helped the team win its first silver medal at 2021 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup in August, and previously played for the country’s Under 16 and Under 18 programs.
Last year Cougars forward Filip Koffer played for the Czech Republic during the 2021 World Juniors.
The Cougars are back from their Christmas break and will host the Western Conference-leading Everett Silvertips Tuesday and Wednesday at CN Centre. Game time both nights is 7 p.m.
