Vladimír Dravecký retires from professional ice hockey

Former captain of the Slovak national ice hockey team, Vladimír Dravecký, has officially retired from professional hockey. The 41-year-old from Košice played his final shift during a Friday Extraliga match between Třinec and Kometa Brno at the WERK Arena.

Dravecký shared the ice for his final moments with longtime teammates Petr Vrána and Martin Růžek. Following a 13-second shift, the trio departed the ice as Třinec ultimately secured a 6-5 victory over Brno.

Dravecký expressed deep emotion during the ceremony, particularly noting a surprise video message from his son, who was unable to attend due to commitments in New York. While he ruled out any possibility of extending his professional career, he noted he hopes to play recreational hockey with his son in the future.