Former NHLer Tomas Tatar named captain of Slovakia’s men’s Olympic team

A former NHL star is ready to lead his country in Milan.

On Monday, the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation announced that forward Tomas Tatar will be the captain of the men’s ice hockey team at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak and Washington Capitals blueliner Martin Fehervary will be the team’s alternates.

Tatar was also one of Slovakia’s flagbearers for the Opening Ceremony this past Friday. The former Montreal Canadien is one of two players on the Slovak roster who also played for their country at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014, the last time NHL players were allowed to participate. Former Toronto Maple Leafs rearguard Martin Marincin is also on this year’s team.

Tatar has represented his country on several occasions over his career. Along with helping Slovakia qualify for the Winter Games, the Ilava native has made seven appearances at the IIHF Men’s World Championships, helping the team win silver in 2012. He’s also played at the IIHF World Junior Championships, as well as Team Europe at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Cernak hasn’t represented Slovakia since the 2019 Men’s Worlds. The two-time Stanley Cup champion is playing on the senior national team for just the second time in his career, but he has played for the Slovaks at the World Juniors three times, winning bronze in 2015, and the IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship twice.

Despite many tours of service for his country, Fehervary has never won a medal in an international competition. The veteran defender has played for Slovakia at four Men’s Worlds, two World Juniors and two Under-18s.

In the “NHL era” of the Olympic hockey tournaments, Slovakia only made it to the semifinals once, that coming in Vancouver in 2010. The team’s bronze medal four years ago remains the only hardware the team has won in its history. Slovakia will open up Group B play on Wednesday against Finland.