Gaborik of Blue Jackets misses Sochi Games
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) Slovan Bratislava forward Branko Radivojevic will replace injured forward Marian Gaborik of the Columbus Blue Jackets on the Slovak team for the Sochi Olympics.
Gaborik broke a collarbone in an NHL game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Dec. 21 and did not recover in time to play at the Olympics.
Gaborik played for Slovakia at the 2006 Turin Games and helped his country to a surprise fourth place finish at Vancouver in 2010.
Coach Vladimir Vujtek was disappointed, saying in a statement on Friday that Gaborik had been expected to be one his ''key players.''
Defensemen Lubomir Visnovsky of the New York Islanders still remains doubtful.
Slovakia starts the Olympic tournament Feb. 13 against the United States before facing Slovenia and Russia in Group A.
