A horrible incident marred a game of the Slovak Extraliga, the highest level of Slovakian hockey.
During a match between HC Banska Bystrica and HK Poprad, a puck was cleared out of the Banka Bystrica zone and struck Barbora Zlacikova, a reporter who was stationed behind the boards at the red line. Poprad defenseman Lukas Kozak, who had tried to jump to keep puck in the zone, said: "The puck was flying too high. I turned around to get it, and saw the puck hit her. I felt sick."
The 30-year-old Zlacikova suffered a concussion, broken bones, and serious damage to her right eye. The doctors said they will be working to save the eye and the nerves around it as their first priority. Plastic surgery will be needed as well, but scarring is likely.
Zlacikova said that she was not watching the action closely and was writing some notes. She said she had no time to dodge when she saw the puck approach her face, and does not remember anything after the pain of the impact.
"I am alive," she said in a statement. "I thank everyone from my heart for their thoughts and prayers. have a surgery coming up and I will come back stronger than ever."
Source: Idnes.cz
