Poprad vs Dukla Trencin

Poprad struck first at 11:26 when Adam Cracknell converted from Andrew Calof and Peter Bjalončík to make it 1-0. But Trenčín levelled on the powerplay at 16:42, Jaedon Descheneau finishing a feed from Ryan Allan Merkley.

The second period swung Trenčín's way. Ture W Linden made it 1-2 on another powerplay at 31:21 (assist: Matthew John Sop), and Samuel Krajč extended the lead to 1-3 at 36:48 (Sop, Lukáš Lunter). Poprad pulled one back before the buzzer when Andrew Calof beat Šimon Latkóczy on a penalty shot at 38:23 after Ryan Allan Merkley was penalised for slashing on the breakaway — 2-3 after 40 minutes.

Trenčín restored the two-goal cushion 31 seconds into the third period. Travis Rocky Barron scored on the powerplay at 40:31 (Merkley) to make it 2-4.

That was the turning point. Poprad killed successive Trenčín penalties, then struck twice on their own powerplay. Adam Cracknell fired his second of the night at 54:41 (PP), and Adam Dvořák tied it at 4-4 at 56:32 with a one-timer from Ján Marcinko (PP). Five minutes of scoreless overtime followed.

Down 2-4 after Barron's goal early in the third, Poprad faced a four-minute deficit that could have buried them. Instead, they killed off a penalty to Markus Suchý (carried over from the second period) and then a holding penalty against Andrej Hatala of Trenčín at 53:58. Once on the powerplay, Cracknell struck 43 seconds later. A high-sticking call on Travis Rocky Barron 11 seconds after that gave Poprad a second powerplay, and Dvořák cashed in at 56:32. The hosts scored two powerplay goals in 1:51 to force overtime and ultimately the shootout.

Adam Cracknell (Poprad) — 2 goals, including the 3-4 powerplay marker that started the comeback. The Canadian centre finished the tournament with 5 goals in 3 matches after also scoring in the win over Humenné. Player of the Match.

Andrew Calof (Poprad) — 1 goal (penalty shot), 1 assist. His timely penalty-shot strike just before the second intercut kept Poprad within reach at 2-3.

Peter Bjalončík (Poprad) — Scored the decisive shootout goal in the 6th round (low blocker-side past Latkóczy) and assisted Cracknell's opener.

Ryan Allan Merkley (Trenčín) — 2 primary assists (Descheneau, Barron), the offensive catalyst from the blue line for Trenčín's three powerplay goals.

Jaedon Descheneau (Trenčín) — 1 powerplay goal in the first period, but missed his second shootout attempt in the 6th round to seal Trenčín's defeat.

• Powerplay differential: Poprad went 2/5 (40%), while Trenčín converted 3/4 (75%). The special teams battle flipped dramatically in the third period — Trenčín scored on their first three powerplay opportunities but couldn't extend the lead on their fourth, and Poprad's two late powerplay goals were the difference.
• Penalty minutes: Poprad 8 (4 infractions), Trenčín 10 (6 infractions). The disparity widened in the third period when Trenčín took three minor penalties, including two in the final 6:07 that Poprad exploited.
• Attendance: 1,321 at ZŠ Poprad, a strong turnout for pre-season Tatra Cup action.
• Goal sequence: 1-0, 1-3, 2-3, 2-4, 4-4 — Poprad never led after the 11th minute but found a way back twice.

Poprad completed a perfect 3-0 sweep of the Tatra Cup round-robin (Dunaújváros, Humenné 4-2, Trenčín 5-4 SO) to lift the trophy for the 79th edition of Slovakia's oldest hockey tournament. Trenčín finished second at 2-1 after beating Humenné (6-3) and Dunaújváros but falling to Poprad in the decider. Humenné beat Dunaújváros 7-0 on the final day to claim third place.

Both clubs now turn to final pre-season preparations before the Tipos Extraliga season opener.

1. HockeySlovakia.sk — Match Overview (163856): https://www.hockeyslovakia.sk/sk/stats/matches/1235/tatransky-pohar-2026/match/163856/Overview
2. HockeySlovakia.sk — Match Stats (163856): https://www.hockeyslovakia.sk/sk/stats/matches/1235/tatransky-pohar-2026/match/163856/Stats
3. HockeySlovakia.sk — Lineups: https://www.hockeyslovakia.sk/sk/stats/matches/1235/tatransky-pohar-2026/match/163856/LineUp
4. HockeySlovakia.sk — Play-by-Play: https://www.hockeyslovakia.sk/sk/stats/matches/1235/tatransky-pohar-2026/match/163856/PlayByPlay
5. Onlajny.com — Live feed: https://www.onlajny.com/match/index/date/2026-08-30/id/543514
6. Betmana.co.uk — Match page: https://betmana.co.uk/hockey/match/europe/tatra_cup/season-2026/2026-08-30/437861-poprad-vs-dukla-trencin/
7. HK Poprad official site: https://hkpoprad.sk/aj-poprad-vyhral-svoj-druhy-zapas-na-turnaji/