At first, it was uncertain whether he’d be playing. Then he was coming, but nobody was sure exactly when. On Thursday, Dalibor Dvorský revealed to Slovak media his timetable for the next few days.

Coincidentally, his AHL team, the Springfield Thunderbirds, has a couple of upcoming road games not far from Ottawa, the site of this year’s IIHF World Junior Championship. He will play for Springfield on Saturday in Belleville, Ont. against the Senators and Sunday in Laval, Que. against the Rocket. That same day, the Slovaks will play their last pre-tournament game in Kingston, Ont against the USA. Dvorský will then join the Slovak team on Monday, Dec. 23 – three days before their tournament opener against Sweden.

The decision on whether to play in a fourth IIHF World Junior Championship and when exactly he would join was left up to him by both the St. Louis Blues and Hockey Slovakia.

“I called coach (Ivan) Fenes and then communicated with the (Blues),” said Dvorský. “I want to support the team and I want to prove something because this is my last World Junior Championship. I’ll do everything I can every game so that we achieve something great for Slovakia.”

Dvorský did not indicate whether Blues GM Doug Armstrong wanted him to go or not.

“He told me his opinion and then added that the final decision was up to me,” said Dvorský. “I’ve never been one not to play for my national team. It’s an honor for me. It’s my last (junior) tournament, so I want to be there with the guys and win something. It was an easy decision.”

Asked about his goals for the team in the tournament, he answered, “I have in my head that we want to play in the semifinals – I won’t lie about that. We have the team for it and I want to be fighting directly for a medal.”

Dvorský was asked about potential linemates.

“I’ve played a lot with Juraj Pekarčík, with the national team and also in St. Louis,” he said about a fellow Blues prospect who currently plays in the QMJHL for the Moncton Wildcats. “We’re good friends and I’d like to be with him. We’ll see who the coaches put with us.”

Since the Slovaks announced their training camp roster in late November, they have made a number of cuts and their roster is now down to 28, counting Dvorský and 17-year-old Tobias Tomík, who was also added after the start of camp.

Goaltenders: Alan Lenďák, Michal Prádel, Samuel Urban.

Defensemen: Milan Pišoja, Samuel Kupec, Jakub Chromiak, Adam Beluško, Peter Valent, Samuel Barcík, Tomáš Královič, Luka Radivojevič, Richard Baran, Maxim Štrbák.

Forwards: Matúš Vojtech, Tomáš Pobežal, Lukáš Klečka, Miroslav Šatan, Roman Kukumberg, Andrej Párička, František Dej, Adam Cedzo, Ján Chovan, Róbert Fedor, Tobias Pitka, Juraj Pekarčík, Daniel Jenčko, Peter Císar, Tobias Tomík, Dalibor Dvorský.