Moment of horror at the junior tournament. A player from Pardubice was cut in the neck by a skate, the match was not completed

Seventeen-year-old Slovak forward Matúš Válek was injured during a junior hockey tournament match in Nyköping when a Czech player accidentally cut his neck with a skate. The game was stopped in the 15th minute due to the severity of the injury. According to the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation, Válek's condition is stable and he is hospitalized but not in life-threatening condition. The match was halted as both teams prioritized the player's health. Válek, a product of Slovan Bratislava, has been developing his talent in Pardubice, where he made his extraleague debut last year at 16. He has played seven games this season without scoring and also competes for the Pardubice junior team.