.  The 1925 Ice Hockey European Championship was originally scheduled to take place in Prague, the capital of Czechoslovakia. Due to mild weather conditions, however, the event was relocated to the High Tatras, in what is now Slovakia. This marked the first-ever hosting of an international sporting event on Slovak territory, with teams from Czechoslovakia, Belgium, Austria and Switzerland participating. The championship was held from 8 to 11 January 1925 at Štrbské Pleso and Starý Smokovec. Unfortunately, the weather again posed a challenge, with harsh conditions complicating the work of the organisers. Nevertheless, the tournament was successfully completed, and the Czechoslovakian team claimed the title of European champions. Following the tournament, the popularity of ice hockey—then widely referred to in Europe as ‘Canadian hockey’—grew rapidly among Slovaks, who had previously shown more interest in bandy, a sport played on ice with a ball.