Visnovsky has already missed most of the NHL season due to his injury and didn’t get green light from the doctors because he has not yet completely recovered.

“Lubo said he doesn’t feel physically well enough to play at the Olympics,” said Otto Sykora, the General Manager of the Slovak national team. “For us it’s a big loss but we have to deal with that.”

Slovakia has so far been the most injury-plagued team in the weeks leading up the Olympics. From the roster announced one month ago, also Marian Gaborik, Dominik Granak and Michal Sersen had to withdraw earlier.

The Slovak Ice Hockey Association announced that one of the defencemen practising with the team as replacement players – Marek Daloga, Tomas Starosta or Ivan Svarny – will be nominated to join the roster in Visnovsky’s place.