When the ribbon was cut on Saturday, April 5, 2025, the gates officially opened to the newly built arena of the regional Hockey Academy in Trenčín, established at the regional Secondary School of Sports. The state-of-the-art ice rink will serve as a training ground for talented athletes on their path to the world of professional hockey.
Bringing young people back to sports facilities and raising a new generation of hockey players – this was the mission launched by the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation in the Trenčín Region as a pilot project, where youth development initiatives were set in motion.
Sports and education
Much time has passed since the signing of the memorandum in 2017 between the Trenčín Self-Governing Region, the Secondary School of Sports in Trenčín, and the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation, and the laying of the foundation stone in 2019. In parallel with the construction of the new sports facility, the appearance of the secondary school campus in Zámostie also changed, with the addition of a new gymnasium for the School of Applied Arts in Trenčín and a new boiler room for the neighboring schools. Within the Hockey Academy in Trenčín, which is part of the Secondary School of Sports, a program began to develop well-rounded young athletes – hockey players who, thanks to a quality education, will be able to succeed in life even if they don’t pursue sports professionally. “I would like to thank the representatives of the SIHF, especially Rišo Pavlikovský, for coming to us in 2017 and convincing us of the value of this project. Its purpose far exceeds every euro invested or every minute spent on its realization. I’m proud that we were able to bring this bold idea to life, because the results of the project extend far beyond the borders of our region. I believe this academy will produce world-class athletes,” said Governor of Trenčín Region Jaroslav Baška. The new hockey arena will thus bear the name of a Trenčín native who was there at the project's inception. “This project was built on a much stronger foundation – one that aims to connect sport and education and help return Slovakia to its status as a hockey nation,” said Richard Pavlikovský.
A model for others
The new ice arena should serve as inspiration and a positive example for other self-governing regions as well. “One of the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation’s visions is to improve conditions for training young players. An important step toward achieving this goal is building a network of regional hockey academies, which should eventually be established in each of the eight regions. For these academies to fulfill their mission, it is essential to create suitable infrastructure. The ice arena built next to the regional Hockey Academy in Trenčín offers state-of-the-art facilities for players,” said SIHF President Miroslav Šatan. “Our athletes leave an indelible mark on the world of sports and Slovak hockey globally, proudly representing our Slovak Republic. That’s why I believe other self-governing regions will take this academy as an example,” added Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Slovak Republic Rudolf Huliak.
Among the most advanced
The majestic structure houses two ice rinks – one measuring 60 × 26 meters, meeting IIHF standards for official matches, and a smaller one (24.4 × 26 m) designed for power play and penalty kill training. The stands can accommodate 388 spectators. Generous player facilities include a warm-up area, gym, classrooms and meeting rooms, recovery zones, and technical infrastructure. “Completion of this sports facility will significantly improve training conditions for our students and youth national team players, who now have top-class conditions for pursuing their dreams and goals. The ice rink built on our campus ranks among the most advanced in Slovakia,” said Iveta Petríková Rosinová, principal of the Secondary School of Sports.
Region and government together
The total cost of construction and internal equipment for the arena exceeded 23 million euros, including all preparatory work and associated infrastructure. This includes a new gym for the School of Applied Arts in Trenčín and a new boiler room for the entire secondary school campus in Zámostie. A significant portion of the costs was covered by the Trenčín Self-Governing Region through its own resources and a loan. The Government of the Slovak Republic also contributed 5 million euros. “It wasn’t an easy journey, but it was worth it. I believe that in these facilities, we’ll raise stars the whole of Slovakia can be proud of,” summarized regional governor Jaroslav Baška.
Minister of Tourism and Sports Rudolf Huliak attended the opening ceremony.
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