Going to a Hockey Game in Slovakia Where Slafkovsky used to play

From Slafkovský’s shadow to soaking wet streets — a night in Košice I won’t forget

There’s something oddly poetic about traveling to a game in a city that isn’t yours — a town where the jersey on your back means nothing, where you’re not one of the crowd, but just a curious observer drawn in by atmosphere, legacy, and the unpredictable chaos that comes with hockey. That was me — alone, dressed in nothing team-specific, camera in hand, stepping into Košice, a Slovak city with soul stitched into its stone streets and steel heart.

Košice: Grit and Grace

Let me start by saying Košice is a city of contrasts. You walk down one street and feel transported into medieval Europe — Gothic spires, cobblestone alleys, an absolutely breathtaking cathedral rising like a fairytale. Then, two blocks over, you’re hearing a guy casually brag about hitting a woman, and someone else is talking mafia connections like it’s just part of local life. Somehow, that weird blend of raw and refined is part of what makes Košice fascinating. It’s beautiful, but it’s rough around the edges. It’s proud. And it’s deeply passionate about hockey.