OSWEGO, N.Y. —Simone Bednarik of the Oswego State women’s ice hockey team has officially made the Slovakian national Olympic team roster, which is competing for a place in the 2022 Winter Olympics with qualifying rounds beginning on Thursday, Nov. 11.
Bednarik is a freshman forward for the Oswego State Lakers who has had an impressive career thus far. She comes to Oswego from Team Illinois of the AAA Tier 1 16U junior league and SKP Bratislava (EWHL) in Slovakia. Bednarik played in Slovakia after her 2019-2020 stint with Team Illinois. She put up 10 points in only 16 games for Bratislava.
Slovakia will have to win their bracket which includes Korea, France and Sweden to earn their way to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. Qualifying round play for Group E begins Nov. 11, with France taking on Korea. Only three spots remain in a competitive field for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. This year, 31 teams registered for Olympic competition in women’s ice hockey, the most teams registered in the history of the Olympics for the sport. Of these 31 teams, only 10 qualify for the Olympic Games.
The SUNY Oswego family along with everyone at Laker Athletics is very proud of Simone and wish her all the luck this upcoming week in her national team’s run to make the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Bednarik and the Slovakian national team will open qualifying rounds against Sweden. This game is set for 1 p.m. EST on Saturday, Nov. 11. Follow along at the IIFH links below.
https://www.iihf.com/en/
https://www.iihf.com/en/
https://oswegolakers.com/
Through the support of Oswego Health, admission into Oswego State Women’s Ice Hockey regular season home games is free of charge for the 2021-22 season.
