NY Islanders prospect Kamil Bednarik's Slovak roots run deep

Taken in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft, Kamil Bednarik was the NY Islanders' third selection this summer. Choosen from the USNTDP, Bednarik represents the USA but has special ties to Slovakia.

Bednarik's parents grew up in Slovakia before moving to the United States in 1997. Settling down in Illinois, their son, Kamil, was born in Elk Grove Village, a suburb of Chicago.

A family full of Slovak athletes

Though he grew up in the United States, Bednarik grew up speaking Slovak, which was predominantly used in the family home.

"When we were little, me, Simona [sister] and older sister Nikola, we went to a Slovak school," Bednarik told Martin Rajec of Spravy.rtvs.sk, as translated to English. "Simona and Nikola went there longer, I went there for about one year - they went there for two or three years. We went there on Sundays, only once a week, and we learned Slovak."

Kamil is not the only athlete in the family, as his mother, Mirka, competed in swimming and triathlon, representing Slovakia, while his father, also named Kamil, competed in track & field, also representing his native country.

Not only is Bednarik not the only athlete in the family, he's not the only hockey player. His sister, Simona, plays for SUNY Oswego and the Slovak national team.

"We talked a lot about it [hockey], we both played in the world championships and I have one gold medal and one bronze medal," says Simona. "He has one silver, so I argued with him that I have two medals and he has one. When he plays, I support his team. When I play, Kamil cheers for me. But mostly I support Slovakia,"

Slated to join fellow Islanders draftee and USNTDP teammate, Cole Eiserman, at Boston University this season, Bednarik is preparing himself for what will hopefully be a lengthy and successful career in blue and orange.