Slovakia defeated Germany 4-1 at the 2026 World Junior Championship on Saturday, December 27, 2025, in a game where Slovakian forward Tomáš Chrenko scored a hat trick. Here are three takeaways from the match:

1. Tomáš Chrenko's Dominant Performance

Tomáš Chrenko, an 18-year-old center and a "C-rated skater" on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary list, led Slovakia's offense with a natural hat trick. He scored the first goal of the game at 10:33 of the first period after a scramble in front of the net. Chrenko then extended Slovakia's lead to 2-0 with a power-play goal at 19:12 of the first period. He completed his hat trick with another power-play goal at 13:23 of the second period, making the score 3-0. Adam Nemec assisted on the first two of Chrenko's goals. Chrenko's performance was a key factor in Slovakia securing their first win of the tournament.

2. Special Teams Success for Slovakia

Slovakia capitalized on their power play opportunities, scoring two goals with the man advantage. Chrenko's second and third goals were both power-play goals. Adam Beluško also scored a shorthanded empty-net goal to seal the victory for Slovakia. Their ability to convert on special teams played a significant role in their 4-1 win.

3. Goaltending and Defensive Play

Michal Prádel, playing in his first World Junior Championship game, made 34 saves for Slovakia, including 16 in the third period when Germany was pressing. Prádel's performance helped keep Germany's offense at bay. Slovakia's defense also limited Germany to just three shots on goal in the first period. Although Germany managed to score a goal in the third period, Slovakia's strong defensive play and goaltending helped them maintain their lead and secure the win.

Germany will face Sweden on Monday, December 29, while Slovakia will play against the United States.