Slovak goaltender says he was placed on IV following game against US at World Juniors

Simon Latkoczy, goaltender for Team Slovakia at the recent World Junior Hockey Championship in Alberta, put on a show in his team's game against the United States. The US was, of course, the heavy favourites in the game, but Latkoczy put on a show, stopping 39 of 42 shots in a 3-2 loss. Now back home, Latkoczy is revealing what he went through in that game and it wasn't pretty.

"I've improved over the last year, but I haven't had a game like the one against the USA for a long time," said Latkoczy when asked what he felt about his performance at the tournament. "I threw up after the game and ended up on IV. In the third period I had unbelievable cramps. I'm even more sorry that I sacrificed everything and this is how it turned out."

Latkoczy was referring to the tournament being cancelled in the last part of that quote. He was then asked to elaborate on the cramps.

"In the third period, with about seven minutes left in the game, I was praying for a commercial break so I could go to the bench and take a magnesium," said the 19-year-old. "I had such a cramp in my hand, where I hold the stick, that I couldn't move it. I would do anything for this team. It was one of the toughest games of my career so far."

As for rescheduling the cancelled World Juniors for the summer, Latkoczy didn't seem convinced it would happen.

"I don't believe it very much. It's just talk now to sweep it under the carpet and not have such a big shame. I don't think it will be possible in the summer. NHL clubs have rookie camps, there's summer training, the NHL draft. I can't imagine that happening," he said.

You may recall, Latkoczy was very critical of the organizers of the World Juniors following the cancellation of the tournament. You can read more about that below.

Slovak goalie blasts officials over planning for the World Juniors

Source: Sport.aktuality.sk

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