Dalibor Dvorsky: A Rising Star on the Olympic Stage
MILAN — Dalibor Dvorsky is quickly establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in the world of hockey. The St. Louis Blues rookie forward has been a key contributor for Team Slovakia during their impressive run to the semifinals of the men’s hockey tournament at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, scoring three crucial goals.
“It’s his instinct, he can be in the right spot all the time and then he has an NHL shot,” Slovakia defenseman Simon Nemec commented. “He’s shown that throughout this tournament.”
Dvorsky’s Impact and Record-Breaking Performance
Dvorsky’s skills will be on full display as Slovakia faces Team USA in the semifinals at Santaguilia Arena on Friday. The 20-year-old hasn’t hesitated to compete with some of the world’s best players. His six points (three goals, three assists) in four games mark the most points by an NHL rookie in an Olympic tournament featuring NHL players, surpassing the records of Alex Ovechkin (2006) and Sami Vatanen & Olli Maatta (2014).
“I think I am pretty good offensively,” Dvorsky shared after a practice session. “It’s not just me; my teammates set me up for a lot of good chances, too. I try to be good defensively too, a good two-way center. I try to shoot as much as I can, set up my teammates too. I always trust myself. I have good teammates that do a lot of the job for me and we play for each other. I am happy that it is going the way it is going, but the team performance is key for me.”
From AHL to NHL: A Consistent Goal-Scorer
Dvorsky’s success isn’t limited to the Olympic stage. He’s already making waves in the NHL with 15 points (nine goals, six assists) in 47 games. Prior to that, he excelled in the American Hockey League, scoring 21 goals in 61 games with Springfield. His impressive goal-scoring ability was also evident in the Ontario Hockey League, where he netted 45 goals in 52 games for Sudbury.
Martin Pospisil, a Slovakia forward and Dvorsky’s longtime friend and workout partner, believes in his potential. “I just keep telling him, ‘Keep shooting and good things will happen,’” Pospisil said. “He is something special and I am happy that he is showing it. Some guys, they score goals or get a lot of points and they go too high. He seems like a straight line, not too low, too high. He is just doing his job, and he is pretty good at it.”
Cernak’s Observations and Parayko’s Support
Slovakia defenseman Erik Cernak, of the Tampa Bay Lightning, has been particularly impressed with Dvorsky’s all-around game, including his face-off skills. “Overall, his game is great,” Cernak stated. “He’s playing in St. Louis and eventually he’s going to get more minutes and be an even better player.”
Colton Parayko, a Blues teammate and Canadian defenseman, has been following Dvorsky’s Olympic performance closely. “He’s a guy who prepares the right way,” Parayko said. “He’s always ready to play. I’m just happy to see him doing extremely well. Great for him, happy for him, and looking forward to more success for him.”
Looking Ahead
Dvorsky is focused on translating his Olympic experience back to the NHL. “I have more confidence and, when I get back, I will be motivated to help my team,” he said. “But, right now, I am here and we have important games in front of us and I focus on this. When this is over, my focus will shift back to St. Louis.”
Learn more about the Olympic Winter Games: https://olympics.com/en/olympic-winter-games
