Story Summary
Šimon Groch has agreed a two-year contract extension with HK Spišská Nová Ves. The 23-year-old Slovak defenceman has spent four years with the eastern Slovak club, making his first appearance for the side away to Liptovský Mikuláš on 4 November 2022.
General manager Richard Rapáč described Groch as part of the team’s core and said the defenceman is increasingly becoming a defensive leader. Rapáč also said Groch has earned greater ice time and responsibility each season, while expressing hope that his development could eventually take him to a foreign league.
Key Facts
- Šimon Groch has agreed a two-year extension with HK Spišská Nová Ves.
- Groch made his first appearance for Spišská Nová Ves on 4 November 2022 away to Liptovský Mikuláš.
- The 23-year-old defenceman is a Bratislava hockey youth product and has been with Spišská Nová Ves for four years.
- Richard Rapáč said Groch is part of the core group around which the club has been working for several years.
- Groch has recorded three assists in 16 games this season.
- During Groch’s time at the club, Spišská Nová Ves have won Extraliga bronze and silver medals and the Dušan Pašek Cup for finishing first in the regular season.
IHM Discussion
The extension gives Spišská Nová Ves continuity on the blue line through a player the club regards as an increasingly important defensive presence. Groch arrived as a young defenceman and, according to Rapáč, has gradually taken on more ice time and a larger role.
His three points this season have all been assists, but the club’s assessment centres on his defensive growth rather than offensive production. The new deal also keeps a player who has been present for several major moments in Spišská Nová Ves’s recent history, including the club’s Extraliga bronze and silver medals and its regular-season title.
Why It Matters
Securing Groch for another two years preserves a familiar defensive option for Spišská Nová Ves and underlines the value the club places on his progression. Rapáč’s comments make clear that the organisation sees further room for growth in the 23-year-old, including the possibility of a future move abroad.
For now, the agreement keeps that development in Spišská Nová Ves, where Groch has built his senior career over the past four years.
Mini Q&A
How long is Šimon Groch’s new deal with Spišská Nová Ves?
Groch has agreed a two-year extension with HK Spišská Nová Ves.
What has Groch produced this season?
He has three assists in 16 games this season.
When did Groch first play for Spišská Nová Ves?
He first appeared for the club on 4 November 2022, away to Liptovský Mikuláš.