A big blow for the Slovaks! Their key forward says goodbye to the tournament, Hudacek also had to have an MRI

This is definitely not good news ahead of the quarterfinal clash with Canada. Slovakia has lost one of its key forwards and there is a question mark over Libor Hudacek. Who can’t the Slovaks count on heading into the knockout stage of the tournament?

The Slovak national team “secured” the fourth place in the Ostrava Group B with the last two losses and will challenge the winner of the Prague Group A, Canada, in the quarterfinals.

However, Slovakia will go into this quarterfinal battle without Martin Pospisil. He has helped his team so far in the tournament with three goals and four assists and is the 24th most productive player in this year’s World Championship.

However, the Calgary Flames’ forward injured his shoulder in the last game against Sweden during a power play.

He spent a total of 113 seconds on the ice against Tre Kronor. As Slovak hockey insider Tomas Prokop reported on X platform afterwards, although the X-ray did not reveal a fracture, Pospisil’s shoulder was still hurting. So much so that playing with it would obviously be impossible.

“Martin bumped his left shoulder. We did X-rays and a sonogram and there was no tendon or muscle injury. There is no swelling, but there is pain. He will have an MRI in Ostrava in the morning,” team doctor Pavol Lauko told Slovak journalists.

Tomas Prokop confirmed in his last post that Slovakia will have to do without their key forward. However, the official statement has yet to come from the team doctor.

Libor Hudacek also had an MRI, but he should continue to play for Slovakia at this year’s World Championship.

Source: Ice Hockey World Championship 2024, Hockey.cz, X