Robert Sabolic (right) has been with Slovenia's top national team since 2011.
photo: Andre Ringuette/IIHF
There aren’t too many players in the world of hockey like Robert Sabolic. Internationally, he has played for Slovenia at every IIHF World Championship since 2011. That includes six IIHF WM at the top level, two Olympics, four Olympic qualifying tournaments, and five World Championships in Division I-A.
Domestically, Sabolic is not of one country but many. He has played in Slovenia, Sweden, Germany, Czechia, Switzerland, Austria, and Russia.
“I think I’ve played in all the top leagues in Europe,” Sabolic said with trademark modesty. “Every place has a special place in my heart. I learn something from each place that I’ve been, and the experience has been great. The fans have been awesome wherever I’ve been. I’ll look back more once I retire. So far it’s been great wherever I’ve played.”
Looking back, which he doesn’t like to do, it is his Olympic experiences of which he is most proud, for himself, for his teammates, and, most important, for his country.
“For sure, a career highlight was making it to the Olympics for the first time [2014] and then we made it to the quarter-finals,” he continued. “That was something unreal. It’s probably our team’s biggest success. And then we made it again for the next Olympics. We didn’t quite make the quarter-finals, but we were solid. Those two events are career highs not only for the national team but for the whole country.”
The 2014 quarter-finals appearance was helped along by Anze Kopitar, by far the greatest hockey player Slovenia has ever produced. This is something for Sabolic to boast about because Slovenia is not a power in the hockey world. Their goal each year is to stay in the top pool of the World Championship. Sometimes they are successful; sometimes not. Since Sabolic’s 2011 debut, the team has played up six times but never in two consecutive years. He hopes that changes here in Stockholm. They played in I-A last year and dream of returning to Switzerland for 2026.
“I always like to play for my country,” he adds. “If I’m healthy, I will always play. We don’t have many players, so I have to help whenever I am able.”
Now 36, he has been captain of the national team for two years, but the future is often on his mind. What will the team look like when he retires? How successful will they be? Who will be their stars and leaders?
“It’s maybe too early to say,” he answers, “but I think we have some good young players. It’s not like other countries that have so many. We don’t have too many clubs, too many ice rinks. It’s tough. Whenever we produce a good player, it’s almost a miracle. I hope, I just hope, there will be some young kids to fill our shoes for the next generation.”
As for when that next generation starts and Sabolic steps away, it’s hard to say. Sabolic loves the game and loves playing, so it’s one year at a time for him these days.
“It’s too early to say when I’ll retire. I’ll play with my club team next year, and then I’ll see what happens.”
As for his own future, Sabolic wants to finish playing before considering a next move. He could remain in the game in Slovenia….or not.
“It’s too early to think about. For sure, when I retire, I’m going to step away for a couple of years, and then we’ll see what happens. I don’t think much about that now because I’m still playing.”
And playing right now means trying to help his country stay in the top pool again for the first time since 2005-06. That would also help extend his career and love for the game.
Domestically, Sabolic is not of one country but many. He has played in Slovenia, Sweden, Germany, Czechia, Switzerland, Austria, and Russia.
“I think I’ve played in all the top leagues in Europe,” Sabolic said with trademark modesty. “Every place has a special place in my heart. I learn something from each place that I’ve been, and the experience has been great. The fans have been awesome wherever I’ve been. I’ll look back more once I retire. So far it’s been great wherever I’ve played.”
Looking back, which he doesn’t like to do, it is his Olympic experiences of which he is most proud, for himself, for his teammates, and, most important, for his country.
“For sure, a career highlight was making it to the Olympics for the first time [2014] and then we made it to the quarter-finals,” he continued. “That was something unreal. It’s probably our team’s biggest success. And then we made it again for the next Olympics. We didn’t quite make the quarter-finals, but we were solid. Those two events are career highs not only for the national team but for the whole country.”
The 2014 quarter-finals appearance was helped along by Anze Kopitar, by far the greatest hockey player Slovenia has ever produced. This is something for Sabolic to boast about because Slovenia is not a power in the hockey world. Their goal each year is to stay in the top pool of the World Championship. Sometimes they are successful; sometimes not. Since Sabolic’s 2011 debut, the team has played up six times but never in two consecutive years. He hopes that changes here in Stockholm. They played in I-A last year and dream of returning to Switzerland for 2026.
“I always like to play for my country,” he adds. “If I’m healthy, I will always play. We don’t have many players, so I have to help whenever I am able.”
Now 36, he has been captain of the national team for two years, but the future is often on his mind. What will the team look like when he retires? How successful will they be? Who will be their stars and leaders?
“It’s maybe too early to say,” he answers, “but I think we have some good young players. It’s not like other countries that have so many. We don’t have too many clubs, too many ice rinks. It’s tough. Whenever we produce a good player, it’s almost a miracle. I hope, I just hope, there will be some young kids to fill our shoes for the next generation.”
As for when that next generation starts and Sabolic steps away, it’s hard to say. Sabolic loves the game and loves playing, so it’s one year at a time for him these days.
“It’s too early to say when I’ll retire. I’ll play with my club team next year, and then I’ll see what happens.”
As for his own future, Sabolic wants to finish playing before considering a next move. He could remain in the game in Slovenia….or not.
“It’s too early to think about. For sure, when I retire, I’m going to step away for a couple of years, and then we’ll see what happens. I don’t think much about that now because I’m still playing.”
And playing right now means trying to help his country stay in the top pool again for the first time since 2005-06. That would also help extend his career and love for the game.