After Monday’s defeat of the Czech hockey players against Latvia 3:4 in extra time, some positive news is coming. Filip Chlapík, who was injured right at the end of the tournament, could already start in Thursday’s World Cup match against Slovenia. For another marauder, Filip Chytil, the situation is more complicated.
Riga (from our reporter) – Czech hockey players are enjoying a day off at the World Championships in Tampere and Riga. They are going to the popular spa town of Jurmala, which is located just a short distance from Riga. They will enjoy the beach or the spa there.
But not everyone had a full day off. Two players took part in the planned training on Tuesday – Filip Chlapík and Filip Chytil. He went out on the ice of the Daugava hall, where the hockey players have to be taken from the main arena by an articulated bus, wearing a full-face cover.
The injury to his face was caused by a stick hit at the end of the first period of the penultimate match against Kazakhstan.
Chlapík has been in trouble since the opening match against the Slovaks, where Patrik Koch knocked him down with a controversial bodysuit.
“It’s slightly positive for Chlapík, but as for Chytil, we have to go day by day. He felt the pressure in the place where he was hit,” said national team coach Kari Jalonen after the return of the props from Daugava.
More detailed information was subsequently given by team doctor Antonín Chochola, who specializes in orthopedics and traumatology.
He started with good news. “The guy is back on the ice and his condition looks very good, so he could return to the tournament at full capacity,” he informed.
The striker, whom the coaches counted on on the wing of the second formation, could already play on Thursday afternoon against the Slovenians, although it is not certain yet.
“We have to go step by step. First we have to see how he looks in classic training,” pointed out Chochola.
He added that Chlapík took the bodysuit with an upper body injury, but ruled out a concussion, which was speculated about.
And Chytil, the main star of the team? “He suffered an injury after being hit in the face with a hockey stick, which is a very unpleasant and painful injury. And the soreness still persists. Today we tried the load during training. The first half looked good, in the second the condition got worse and the pain started. So we will reduce the load and continue treatment so that he could continue in the tournament,” Chochola recounted.
However, he could not say when Chytil could jump into the match.
The elite center of the Czech Republic had to get stitches for the injury and is receiving painkillers. It is not known if he also suffered a fracture. “We will not specify that at this time,” Chochola refused to go into details, as is common in professional hockey.
