Croat Becomes First Foreigner Ever Selected For Slovakia
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
They are the current vice-world champions and have an abundance of talent at home, but Croatian Mislav Rosandic (18) has become the first foreigner in history to play for a Slovakian international ice hockey team. Rosandic has made his debut for the Slovakia U18 team in a tournament in Belarus.
Rosandic, from Zagreb, was given special treatment from Slovakian officials as they believe that the teenager has all the makings to one day play in the NHL. Slovakian officials waived the usual eight-year period for citizenship for Rosandic and he was given it after just three years.
Rosandic, who played for the Mladost club in Zagreb, was spotted in Slovakia after attending summer camps there regularly as a kid and at the age of 13 took the plunge to move there to progress his career. Mislav plays for the Banksa Bystrica club in the Slovakian Extraliga.
