Ice Hockey World Championship Cup (2002)
Ice Hockey is considered to be Slovak national sport with enormous popularity among people of all ages.
It was a memorable glory, when Slovak National Ice Hockey Team won World Championship gold medal in 2002 (in Göteborg, Sweden).
The famous Trophy (and one of gold medals) is now on public display in Slovak Ice Hockey Hall of Fame, located in stadium Ondrej Nepela Arena, in Bratislava.
Jurney to World Champions
The 2002 Men's Ice Hockey Championships were held between April 26 and May 11, 2002 in Göteborg, Karlstad and Jönköping, Sweden.
It was the 66th annual event, run by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).
Games of gold medalist, team Slovakia:
Group B: Slovakia - Poland 7-0
Group B: Slovakia - Ukraine 5-4
Group B: Slovakia - Finland 1-3
Second Round: Slovakia - Sweden 2-1
Second Round: Slovakia - Austria 6-3
Second Round: Slovakia - Russia 6-4
Quarter-finals: Slovakia - Canada 3-2
Semi-finals: Slovakia - Sweden 3-2
Final: Slovakia - Russia 4-3
Gallery
The Ondrej Nepela Arena
The oldest sprayed ice rink in Bratislava was put into operation in 1871.
The first Bratislava skating rink with artificial ice on was introduced into operation before Christmas 1940, the first official hockey match took place there on December 21, 1940.
Ice ring was still not covered and sector boundaries offered only 300 seats for the public audience.
First bleachers were added in 1948-49, increasing capacity to 11,000 spectators.
In 1958, ice ring was roofed for European Figure Skating Championships.
Another substantial renovation of stadium was completed between 1990 and 1992, when Bratislava (together with Prague) organized World Championship.
The latest, complex reconstruction of the stadium was completed in 2011 for ice hockey World Championship.
By 2008, the capacity of the hall was 8,350 spectators. After renovation it is 10,000 seats, including Sky boxes and Sky Lounge.
Sources: wiki, youtube bonus, own visit and pictures at the site