"Canadian" ice hockey made its appearance in Slovakia in the mid-1920s and displaced the game of bandy which had enjoyed only limited popularity. As early as 1925 Štrbské Pleso and Starý Smokovec became substitute venues for the 10th European Championships when weather conditions in the Czech Lands proved unfavourable. The Tatras Cup (1927) and Championship of Slovakia (1930) marked an important milestone in the popularity of the game in our country. It was not until the 1960s that Slovak players began to appear with any frequency in the national colours of Czechoslovakia, but the names of pioneers (such as Ladislav Troják and trainer Matej Buckna) had already been emblazoned in the annals of Czechoslovak icehockey. Their successors contributed to the attainment of several World and European Championship titles. Following the creation of the Slovak Republic as an independent state its hockey players faced qualification and World Championship matches in Group C. Victory in both and a highly respectable 6th place at the Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer added to the prestige of our name. In Group B our team is staking its claim to membership of the international hockey elite.