Sekera’s Banter with Draisaitl Before Germany-Slovakia Olympic Clash

Former Slovak hockey defenseman Andrej Sekera, despite retiring in 2022 , remains closely connected to the hockey world. During the Winter Olympics, he revealed ongoing communication with active players, specifically exchanging messages with German captain Leon Draisaitl leading up to the quarterfinal match between Germany, and Slovakia.

Friendly Exchange Before a Heated Match

Sekera and Draisaitl’s conversation began after Germany’s 5-1 victory over France on February 17, 2026. Sekera initially congratulated Draisaitl, to which Draisaitl jokingly responded, “Hahaha bloody thank you.” Sekera continued the exchange in German, stating, “Yes, exactly.”

A Playful Warning from Sekera

Prior to the Germany-Slovakia game, Sekera messaged Draisaitl with a playful warning, urging him to “be good to my friends tomorrow. Don’t attempt to score.” Draisaitl replied with a mix of humor and competitive spirit, adding a halo and devil emoji, stating, “Haha bloody. We’ll see.” Sekera then playfully reinforced his support for Slovakia, saying, “We won’t see any! Slovakia, let’s travel. Good luck, but not that much.” Draisaitl concluded the exchange with a simple, “Thank you, Seko.”

Match Outcome

Slovakia ultimately defeated Germany 6-2 in the quarterfinal match on February 18, 2026. Draisaitl finished the tournament as Germany’s top scorer with 7 points (2 goals and 5 assists) across five games.

Draisaitl’s Olympic Performance

Despite the quarterfinal exit, Leon Draisaitl had a strong showing at the 2026 Winter Olympics. He recorded an assist in the game against Slovakia and played a significant role in all situations for Germany. Germany had advanced to the knockout round after defeating France 5-1, with Draisaitl contributing a goal and two assists in that game.