The New Jersey Devils will have to cross their fingers that Simon Nemec is OK after the defenceman exited Slovakia’s Olympic qualifying tournament game against Hungary on Friday with an upper-body injury.

Tomas Prokop of Slovakia’s DennikSport reported that the team said nothing is broken or dislocated, but that Nemec will undergo more tests Saturday.

The team has not determined Nemec’s status for Sunday’s tourney finale against Kazakhstan. The winner of that game will get a 2026 Olympic spot.

Nemec went hard into the end boards while battling with Hungary’s Bence Horvath midway though the second period in Bratislava.

In obvious pain on the ice after the hit, Nemec eventually skated off and went back to the dressing room.

Nemec, 20, had three goals and 16 assists in 60 games last season in his rookie campaign.

The Devils picked Nemec second overall in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Slovakia’s Simon Nemec, a key player for the national ice hockey team, recently sustained an injury while representing the Devils in an Olympic qualifier game. The 28-year-old defenseman suffered a lower-body injury during the third period of the game against a tough opponent.

Nemec, who has been a standout player for the Devils this season, was instrumental in helping his team secure a spot in the Olympic qualifier tournament. His absence from the lineup will undoubtedly be felt by his teammates and coaching staff as they continue their quest for a spot in the upcoming Winter Olympics.

The extent of Nemec’s injury has not been disclosed, but reports suggest that he will be sidelined for an extended period of time. This is a major blow for Slovakia, as Nemec’s defensive prowess and leadership on the ice will be sorely missed during the crucial stages of the qualifying tournament.

Despite this setback, Nemec remains optimistic about his recovery and is determined to return to the ice as soon as possible. His dedication to his team and country is unwavering, and he is committed to doing whatever it takes to get back on the ice and help his team achieve their goal of qualifying for the Winter Olympics.

In the meantime, Slovakia will have to rely on their depth and resilience to overcome Nemec’s absence and continue their pursuit of Olympic qualification. The team’s coaching staff will need to make adjustments to their lineup and strategy in order to compensate for the loss of their star defenseman.

As fans eagerly await updates on Nemec’s condition and recovery timeline, they are hopeful that he will make a full and speedy recovery in time to rejoin his teammates on the ice. In the meantime, they will continue to support him and the rest of the Slovakian national team as they strive to achieve their Olympic dreams.