National Champions Swap Hockey Sticks for Cooking Spoons
Dvor Jezeršek, 22. 1. 2026
On Thursday, 22 January, Dvor Jezeršek welcomed national champions — the hockey players of HK Olimpija — who were greeted by none other than master chef Luka Jezeršek. After morning coffee and crispy crackling pastries, he invited them into the kitchen, where the players swapped the ice rink for pots and cooking spoons.
The hockey team traded their sports gear for aprons, rolled up their sleeves, and proved that determination, precision, and team spirit thrive just as well in the kitchen.
A Culinary Challenge of Slovenian Classics
The purpose of the visit was a culinary workshop at the Jezeršek Academy, dedicated to Slovenian cuisine. Ten HK Olimpija players took part — six Slovenian and four international athletes (Žiga Pavlin, Jaka Sodja, Rok Kapel, Robert Sabolič, Jan Ćosić, Aljoša Crnović, Alex Petan, Clayton Kirichenko, Evan Polei, Nathanael Halbert).
Luka prepared a special challenge for them: making lePotičke — mini walnut poticas identical in taste and appearance to the traditional Slovenian nut roll. The players tackled the task with great enthusiasm and even surprised their mentor.
The result? Excellent. Score: 10/10.
One of the players enjoyed baking so much that he jokingly started considering a career change.
A True Slovenian Snack and a Culinary Quiz
As a reward, the team enjoyed a traditional Slovenian snack — Carniolan sausage — while also learning the proper slicing techniques for this protected Slovenian culinary specialty.
The most entertaining part of the workshop followed: a quiz on Slovenian cuisine. The players had to guess which of the following dishes are considered traditional Slovenian foods: pasulj, ćevapčiči, jota, burek, matevž, blood sausage, and kremšnita.
The result? 5/10. For a perfect score, the team will clearly need a bit more training in Slovenian inns.
After an hour and a half of culinary creativity, a champions’ breakfast of potica and Carniolan sausage, and the presentation of Jezeršek Academy diplomas, the Dragons headed back to training — smiling and with full stomachs.
Champions on the ice — and in the kitchen.
We also asked Luka Jezeršek how they performed. He said:
“The guys have serious skills. For us, they’re not only national champions on the ice, but in the kitchen too.”
If you’re a fan of both sports and gastronomy, you can experience the tension on the ice while enjoying Jezeršek’s top-level cuisine and an unforgettable cheering atmosphere — all from the comfort of the VIP stand as part of the VIP GOURMET CLUB.