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A native of Slovakia was in Italy this week, 16 years after the country’s prosecutors issued an arrest warrant against him.
The unnamed 44-year-old traveled to Milan to watch his home country’s Olympic hockey team take on medal favorites Finland, which ended up being a tremendous 4-1 victory for the Slovaks.
However, he never had the opportunity to see the Slovak version of “Miracle on Ice.”
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Slovakia fans inside the stadium before the match against Finland in the men’s ice hockey Group B play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Stadium. (Geoff Burke/Image Images)
Police said they located the suspect after he checked into a guesthouse in suburban Milan and then escorted him to San Vittore central prison before he could attend the match.
The order arose from a series of alleged shoplifting in 2010. He now has 11 months and seven days to serve, according to police.
Perhaps the fan wanted to try to bring some home to his hockey team as it takes on the hosts in Italy on Friday. They will close the preliminary round on Saturday against Sweden, another team that could definitely compete for the gold medal.
Juraj Slafkovsky of Slovakia in action during the Men’s Preliminary Group B match between Slovakia and Finland on day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Stadium on February 11, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (RvS.Media/Monika Majer/Getty Images)
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Slovakia won the bronze medal in Beijing when NHL players were not yet allowed to compete. Now, they’re coached by Montreal Canadiens superstar Juraj Slafkovsky, who actually has Olympic experience.
Slafkovsky competed in 2022, as he had not yet been in the NHL. He was 17 years old at the time, the youngest player in the Olympics, but he still managed to be the Olympic points leader and the tournament’s most valuable player.
Slafovsky scored twice against Finland and the St. Louis Blues’ Dalibor Dvorsky scored the game-winner with less than 13 minutes remaining.
Juraj Slafkovsky of Team Slovakia celebrates the team’s 4-1 victory in the Men’s Preliminary Group B match between Slovakia and Finland on the fifth day of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Stadium on February 11, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Unfortunately, a fan won’t be able to see the gang in action.
