Martinek’s life was in jeopardy, said team doctor. The World Championship is over for him

01 May 2011 | David Schlegel

The injured Czech defenceman Radek Martinek (New York Islanders, NHL) will not continue at the IIHF World championship in Bratislava. He is now in a hospital and soon will leave the city for home. "His life was in jeopardy," said Czech team doctor Radomir Holibka. "He is OK now, but still stays in hospital in Bratislava," he added.

Martinek was injured by Arturs Kulda in 15th minute of the game against Latvia. Kulda went into the corner and hit Czech defenseman with his shoulder into his head. Then Martinek received a hit into the back of the neck by tempered glass above the boards. He immediately went down and stayed to lie down motionless.

"He received a hit at the time, when he did not expect that. He remembers how he hit the puck and then he stayed unconsciousness around three minutes and his tongue fell back. He did not wake up until he was in an ambulance car. At those moments his life was in life threat," said team doctor.

"Many things can be treated with surgery, but if his cervical vertebrau would be affected, that would be really serious. You know that a player can end up immobile if things go wrong. Radek was not far away from that," said Holibka and added that Kulda should not be playing at all the World Championship. "He wanted to find Martinek. He did not care about the puck, he went after him."

Disciplinary committee gave Kulda a three-game misconduct. In the game, Kulda did not receive any penalty at all. "The video review revealed, that Kulda jumped up and hit Martinek in the head and neck area," said Jan-Ake Edvinsson, Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel of the IIHF.

Martinek is in hospital in Kramary, a district of Bratislava. He spent the night at intensive care unit. His health state is stabilized. "He underwent a CT examination and he seems to be OK. Of course, he has a concussion of the brain," team doctor explained.

Martinek would like to be released from the hospital. However, it is now impossible. "He still has to be examined and he should stay at least 24 hours confined to bed before any transfer," Holibka said.

The Czech coach Alois Hadamczik has now only five defencemen, but Zbynek Michalek of Pittsburgh Penguins joined that team. The 7th defenceman will be chosen from either last year`s world champion Ondrej Nemec or a youngster Jakub Nakladal. Martinek needs at least six weeks in rest.