Lukáš Kozák announces retirement from professional hockey

Slovak hockey player Lukáš Kozák has officially announced his retirement from professional hockey. The 34-year-old decision comes after several seasons of consideration, driven by personal, family, and professional reasons. Kozák noted that attempting to balance multiple commitments had become exhausting and impacted his ability to perform at 100 percent.

Throughout his career, Kozák played in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Croatia for Medveščak Zagreb, and the KHL with Slovan Bratislava. Reflecting on his career, he expressed both satisfaction and self-criticism, noting that while certain decisions could have been made differently, his experiences shaped him. He also expressed regret over never competing in a World Championship despite playing for the national team.

Kozák plans to focus on his business activities on the Adriatic coast, a transition he has been preparing for over a long period.