KEARNEY, Neb — Tri-City Storm goaltender Michal Pradel and forward Samuel Murin are set to represent Team Slovakia at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, which kicks off in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minn., on Friday, Dec. 26. Pradel, in his first full year of USHL action, has been a standout performer for Tri-City. The 2007-born player leads all USHL netminders in saves with 567 and ranks second in minutes played at 1,270. His .916 save percentage is the third-best among league goaltenders, and his 2.46 goals against average ranks eighth. Pradel’s three shutouts this season tie him for the USHL lead. He made his USHL debut with the Storm on Feb. 14, 2025, and was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the third round of the 2025 NHL Draft at #75 overall. Although Pradel was part of Team Slovakia at last year’s WJC, he did not see game action.
Murin, in his first campaign playing in North America, has scored four goals and one assist in 28 games with Tri-City. The 18-year-old Levoca, Slovakia native will make his first appearance at the WJC. Last year, Murin played 37 games in Slovakia, totaling seven goals and eight assists. He also participated in 40 international games with Slovakia’s 18-and-under national team, amassing seven goals and 14 assists.
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Slovakia, which has finished sixth in the last three tournaments, will begin its campaign with a Group A match against Sweden on Friday, Dec. 26, at 12 p.m. CT. The team will face Germany on Saturday, Dec. 27, at 1 p.m. CT, the United States on Monday, Dec. 29, at 5 p.m. CT, and Switzerland on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 12 p.m. CT. Elimination play starts Friday, Jan. 2, with semifinals on Sunday, Jan. 4, and the gold medal game on Monday, Jan. 5.