At the World Cup they duped everyone
Slovakian child prodigy (14) conquers the ice hockey world
The only 14-year-old ice hockey talent Nela Lopusanova dominates the U18 World Championship at will. Against much older opponents, the Slovakian scored one dream goal after the other.
Published: 12 minutes ago
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Nela Lopusanova is the new star of women’s hockey.
Andrea CattaniEditor Sports
At the end it’s one last time: Nela Lopusanova against everyone! The game on Saturday was lost for Slovakia with a score of 1: 5 against the Czech Republic with around six minutes to go. But the only 14-year-old attacker has not yet given up.
Lopusanova starts another counterattack on his own blue line, rushes past the Czech defenders who have no chance after just a few meters and finally storms towards the opposing goalkeeper alone. She completes the speed attack with a trick: with the stick between her own legs, she boldly flicks the puck into the net.
The goal doesn’t change anything about the bankruptcy of the Slovakian women’s national team at the U18 World Cup. For Lopusanova, however, it is another highlight in her already impressive letter of application for higher positions.
Canada’s U18 wins World Cup
The title of the U18 World Cup goes to Canada in 2023. The seven-time champions and defending champions beat the hosts 10-0 in the final in Östersund, Sweden. The young players from the USA get bronze. They win the match for 3rd place against Finland 5:0.
The Swiss managed to stay up with two wins in the relegation playoff against Japan. (cat)
The title of the U18 World Cup goes to Canada in 2023. The seven-time champions and defending champions beat the hosts 10-0 in the final in Östersund, Sweden. The young players from the USA get bronze. They win the match for 3rd place against Finland 5:0.
The Swiss managed to stay up with two wins in the relegation playoff against Japan. (cat)
She scored three times against Switzerland
The World Championships in Sweden have become a showcase for the youngster in the last few days. In five games, Lopusanova scored nine goals and provided three assists. She scored a hat trick against the Swiss U18 national team. In the scorer list of the tournament, she is at the top by a wide margin. And that despite the fact that almost all of their opponents are several years older.
The qualities attributed to the 1.70 m tall Slovakian are varied: nimble hands, an arsenal of tricks with the puck, a hard shot and also defensive skills – Lopusanova already brings an almost complete package with him. She proved that – for everyone to see – in the World Cup match against the Swedes. The pictures of Lopusanova’s so-called “Airhook Goal” went around the world.
Hockey woman with spectacle goal: 14-year-old makes history with Airhook goal(01:12)
She also hits the men’s offspring as she pleases
The child prodigy has not measured himself against his peers for a long time. At home she already played in the men’s youth league and recorded 31 scorer points in ten games. In the highest Slovakian women’s league, Lopusanova was last enough for 15 goals and ten preparations in six games at her home club MsHKM Zilina. However, the future for Nela Lopusanova should lie in North America. It has long been on the radar of college hockey programs in the USA and Canada.
After the impressive show at the U18 World Cup, observers are expecting the jump to the first women’s national team soon. Lopusanova does not want to look that far into the future. But she announces: “You can prepare for something big. Just wait it out.”
National League 22/23
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10 |
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11 |
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12 |
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13 |
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14 |
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