Story Summary
Marko Stacha, a 24-year-old defenceman for HK Nitra, suffered a deep cut in the 14th minute of his team’s Champions League match that exposed bone and drew blood. He left the ice not via the players’ bench but through a corner entrance to the dressing room, for which referees assessed a two-minute penalty for delaying the game. Nitra’s doctor gave Stacha several internal and five external stitches; Stacha returned to the match, scored Nitra’s only goal in a heavy defeat and later had his external stitches tear during play, so they were re-stitched after the game. Stacha said he will see a doctor the following morning and believes he will be available for Nitra’s next home game against Växjö Lakers on Sunday.
Key Facts
- Marko Stacha is a 24-year-old defenceman for HK Nitra.
- In the 14th minute he left the ice through a corner entrance to the dressing room rather than the players’ bench; referees penalised him two minutes for delaying the game.
- Stacha suffered a cut that revealed bone and bled; he said, “I felt that I’d got a skate to an area that isn’t protected, I looked and I saw bone and blood.”
- He told reporters he apologised to team-mates for the two-minute penalty but would act the same way again because he did not know of the rule.
- A team doctor performed several internal stitches and five external stitches; those external stitches tore during the match and were re-stitched after the game.
- Stacha returned to the match after being treated and scored Nitra’s only goal, making the score 1-5.
- Nitra were badly outshot in the first period, 1-14.
- After scoring Nitra’s only goal, Stacha became the team’s leading scorer and is set to wear the special top-scorer jersey.
- Nitra will host Swedish side Växjö Lakers on Sunday; other opponents in the group include Finnish clubs KooKoo and SaiPa, Swiss Fribourg-Gottéron and a home finale versus BK Rögle.
- Stacha said he had prepared for two to three months for the Champions League games and was keen to play against strong opponents.
- Stacha stated he planned to see a doctor the following morning and believed he would be able to play on Sunday.
IHM Discussion
Stacha’s account of looking down to see bone and blood explains why he headed directly for the dressing room rather than the bench. That immediate response led to a two-minute penalty for delaying the game after he left the ice through a corner entrance during play.
He apologised to his team-mates for the penalty, but said he would have acted the same way again because he did not know the rule. After receiving internal and external stitches, Stacha returned to finish the match and scored Nitra’s only goal. The external stitches tore during play and had to be redone afterwards.
Stacha had been looking forward to Nitra’s Champions League fixtures for months, particularly against strong opposition. His return reflected that desire to take part, while his availability for Sunday remains subject to a medical check.
Why It Matters
The incident brought an unusual sequence: a player seeking immediate treatment was penalised for the route he took off the ice, then returned to score Nitra’s only goal. It also leaves Nitra awaiting the outcome of Stacha’s medical check before Sunday’s visit of Växjö.
For Stacha, the match was an early test of the step up to Champions League opposition. He said Nitra initially found the pace a major jump from pre-season games, but began to adjust as the game went on.
Mini Q&A
Why was Marko Stacha penalised in the 14th minute?
Referees gave Stacha a two-minute penalty for delaying the game because he left the ice through a corner entrance to the dressing room rather than via the players’ bench during play.
How serious was Stacha’s injury and what treatment did he receive?
Stacha said he saw bone and blood; team medical staff performed several internal stitches and five external stitches. The external stitches tore during the match and were re-stitched after the game.
Did Stacha return to the match?
Yes. After initial treatment, he returned to finish the game and scored Nitra’s only goal at 0-5.
Will Stacha be available for the next match?
Stacha said he will see a doctor the following morning and believes he will be able to play in Nitra’s next home game against Växjö Lakers on Sunday.
What is next for Nitra in the Champions League?
Nitra host Växjö Lakers on Sunday, then face KooKoo, SaiPa and Fribourg-Gottéron away before hosting BK Rögle to close the league phase.
What Comes Next
Stacha will see a doctor the next morning and said he hopes to be fit for Nitra’s home game against Växjö Lakers on Sunday. Nitra then face KooKoo, SaiPa and Fribourg-Gottéron away before hosting BK Rögle to close the league phase.
IHM Final View
Stacha’s night combined a serious cut, an unusual penalty and Nitra’s only goal. His return underlined how much the Champions League fixtures mean to him, but the immediate focus is the medical check before Växjö arrive on Sunday.