San Jose Sharks forward Pavol Regenda would love his second trip to the Winter Olympic Games to go as well as his first.
Regenda was part of a Slovakian team in 2022 that at first had modest expectations going into the Games in Beijing. But the NHL’s withdrawal just six weeks before the tournament began improved Slovakia’s chances, and with some clutch performances, Regenda and his teammates captured the Bronze Medal, setting off parties and celebrations upon their return to Bratislava.
“We felt like superstars, which we actually were at that time,” Regenda said. “It was the first medal ever for Slovakia in hockey. We are forever in history.”
Regenda, listed at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, and his countrymen return to the Olympic stage again this week in Milan Cortina as Slovakia begins play in Group B on Wednesday against Finland. They also play Italy on Friday and Sweden, with Sharks center Alex Wennberg, on Saturday
Although Slovakia, which has eight players in the NHL, will be hard-pressed to win another medal — especially with players from the league back in the tournament — Regenda feels anything is possible, especially once the knockout stage begins.
“It’s pretty quick. It’s three games in a group,” said Regenda, who has nine points in 16 games with the Sharks this season. “You have to win one (qualification round game) to advance, and then if you win one (quarterfinal) game, like we did (in 2022), you’re suddenly playing in the top four.
“If you lose, you still can win a bronze medal.”
Regenda, 26, is a native of Michalovce, a city of around 40,000, located about an hour’s drive from Ukraine’s far western border. In the spring of 2022, the undrafted Regenda was still playing in the Slovakian league for Michalovce Dukla when he got the opportunity to play for his country in the Olympics.
Regenda, Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovský and New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec are the only three players from that Olympic team still in the NHL. Slafkovský and Nemec went first and second overall to the Canadiens and Devils, respectively, in the 2022 draft.
Slovakia went 1-2 in group play but beat Germany 4-0 in the qualification round to advance to the quarterfinals, where they played the United States, coached by former Sharks bench boss David Quinn. Regenda assisted on a first-period goal by Slafkovsky before Slovakia scored late in the third period to tie the game.
San Jose Sharks Pavol Regenda (84) smiles after being honored for being on the Slovakia roster for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan before a game against the New York Rangers at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
After a scoreless overtime, forward Peter Cehlarik scored the lone goal in a five-round shootout as Slovakia advanced to the semifinals.
Slovakia then lost to Finland in the semifinals, but in a considerable upset, beat Sweden 4-0 in the Bronze Medal game, with Regenda scoring late in the third period to seal the victory. Slovakia had lost to Sweden 4-1 in group play, but had an extra day of rest before the Bronze Medal game after the Swedes lost to Russia in the semifinals the day before
“We crushed them,” Regenda said of the Swedish team. “We had a better schedule than they had, so it was fortunate for us. A bronze medal, nobody’s asking how. It’s going to always be in our memories. Nobody’s going to take a bronze medal from you, and hopefully we can repeat.”
Regenda certainly won’t forget the ensuing celebration back home, as the players were paraded around Bratislava before going on stage in front of thousands of fans in the city.
“It was great. You’re standing up there, and all the people are cheering for you,” Regenda said. “We’re pretty well known back home as hockey players. It was a big thing for Slovakia.”
Regenda grew up idolizing other Slovakian stars like Marian Hossa, Marian Gaborik, Pavol Demitra, and Zdeno Chara. Now he and other Slovakians in the NHL will once again have all eyes on them, with several of the team’s supporters and members of Regenda’s family making the trip to Italy.
“It’s kind of rewarding that now that the kids are looking up to us, and we are kind of idols for them,” Regenda said. “(It) sounds really crazy, but it is like that. We are heroes back at home for them.”