The event began the day after Christmas and runs through Jan. 5 in this Under-20 tournament sponsored by the International Ice Hockey Federation.

Pitka, 19, is a native of Poprad, Slovakia. He had a goal and an assist over his team’s three games through Monday, registering an assist in its opener against Sweden on Friday before notching a goal in Slovakia’s most recent game vs. the United States on Monday.

Pitka has been a solid contributor to the Wildcats this season with three goals and three assists, despite not playing in a half-dozen of NMU’s games. He has also taken 23 shots on goal, blocked 12 shots and been assessed four minor penalties while regularly serving as the second-line center in all situations.

He has won 119 faceoffs and has a 48% success rate in that department, both second for Northern only behind sophomore Jakub Altrichter.

From left, Northern Michigan University’s Tobias Pitka, Grayden Slipec, Girts Silkalns (at back mostly hidden), Aidyn Hutchinson and Tynan Ewart celebrate Slipec’s goal during a CCHA hockey game played against Minnesota State-Mankato at the Berry Events Center in Marquette on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

At the world juniors, the Slovaks had their fourth and final Group A game scheduled for Wednesday afternoon against Switzerland, apparently with the top eight teams among the 10 in the field advancing to today’s quarterfinals.

After three games, Slovakia is tied for third in its group with a 1-2 record, with advancement certain as Germany has finished last in Group A at 0-4. A likely opponent in the quarterfinals will be one of the top two teams in Group B, Canada or Finland.

In the world juniors opener vs. Sweden on Friday, Pitka had the primary assist on the Slovakia’s game-tying goal with about nine minutes left that was scored by teammate Tobias Tomik. Sweden then scored the game-winner about five minutes later for a 3-2 victory.

Pitka finished with 19 minutes, 9 seconds of time on the ice, second most on his team, and finished with a plus-1 rating while taking two shots.

Slovakia played again the following day, defeating Germany 4-1. Pitka had 17:04 ice time in this game, taking five shots as third-line center Tomas Chrenko had a three-goal hat trick.

Then in Monday’s 6-5 loss to the U.S., Pitka scored the game’s first goal 8:53 in, with Chrenko making it 2-0 about 2 1/2 minutes later. Tomik and Filip Kovalcik assisted on Pitka’s tally, which was described in a USA Hockey news release as a wrist shot from the slot on an odd-man rush.

A busy second period saw a half-dozen goals, four by the U.S., that tied it 4-4. The Americans added two more in the first five minutes of the third as a goal by Chrenko with a little under two minutes left with an extra attacker after the goalie was pulled only got Slovakia back within one.

Pitka finished with 14:26 ice time, a plus-1 rating and two shots on this day.

One of Pitka’s teammates at the world juniors is Luka Radivojevic of Boston College, the only other NCAA player for Slovakia.

Pitka also played in an U18 world juniors event in the 2023-24 season, getting an assist in that event, and has represented Slovakia internationally in other hockey tourneys.

Story contents based on a Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release and USA Hockey press release reviewing the games. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.