It’s been speculated for days and on Wednesday, the Slovak Ice Hockey Association announced that defenseman Martin Fehérváry is withdrawing from this weekend’s Olympic qualifying tournament in Bratislava due to an injury.

“I already announced before the meeting that I am not completely healthy from a physical point of view and that I’d have to see how it goes it,” Fehérváry said without going into details about the injury. “We finally concluded that it would be better for me to rest. I am not ready for a full game load.”

Fehérváry missed 16 Washington Capitals games in February and March with what was termed a lower-body injury but returned to play at the end of the regular season, the playoffs, and then the IIHF World Championship for Slovakia.

He continued, “I am very sorry. I wanted to play, it’s a shame. On the other hand, I have to look to the future – the season in the NHL is long and demanding. I’d rather have the injury treated properly than worry about it for a whole year. It continues to be true that when I can come to the national team and am healthy, I will always come.”

Replacing Fehérváry on the Slovak roster is 23-year-old defenseman František Gajdoš, who has played in each of the last two World Championships and was in the middle of training camp with HC Litvínov of the Czech Extraliga.

“Every invitation to the national team makes me happy,” said Gajdoš. “It came unexpectedly as the coaches called me on Tuesday night. I got into the car and I’m at practise today. Battling for a place in the Olympics is great motivation. The games will be more intense and probably at a higher pace than pre-season games at the club level, so I’m looking forward to it.” 

Slovakia's first game is Thursday against Austria at 18:00 Central European Time, noon Eastern Daylight Time. 

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