NHL-qualified Marián Studenič left Slovakia's Olympic qualifiers in the summer of 2024. In a statement, Studenič wrote that it was due to the role he was given on the national team.
"Was it unprofessional for me to leave the team? Yes, it was. Could the situation have been handled differently? Definitely. But I am also just a person who makes decisions and I am prepared to take the consequences," he wrote, according to Värmlands Folkblad.
"I didn't want to whine about a spot in the lineup. But I would have appreciated being able to prepare for the season instead of sitting on the bench or in the stands. I respect the coaches' decisions and all the guys on the team deserve to play, they're good hockey players."
Now the federation announces that he will not be eligible for the national team when Slovakia goes to Milan, Italy, to play in the Olympics.
When Marián Studenič left during the Olympic qualifiers, he ruined the team, says national team captain Vladimir Orzagh according to Slovak Sport.
Slovakia has Sweden in its group in the Olympics.
