Ján Laco

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| image = Ján Laco and Alexander Krysanov 2012-01-10 Amur—Lev KHL-game.jpeg

| caption = Ján Laco with Lev Poprad in 2012

| image_size = 260px

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1981|12|1}}

| birth_place = Liptovský Mikuláš, Czechoslovakia

| played_for = MHk 32 Liptovský Mikuláš
HKm Zvolen
HK Nitra
Lev Poprad
Donbass Donetsk
Barys Astana
Piráti Chomutov
HC Sparta Praha
HC Košice

| position = Goaltender

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 0

| weight_lb = 190

| catches = Left

| ntl_team = SVK

| draft = Undrafted

| career_start = 2000

| career_end =

}}

Ján Laco ({{IPA|sk|ˈjaːn ˈlatsɔ}}; born 1 December 1981) is a former Slovak ice hockey goaltender.

Career

He won the 2012–13 IIHF Continental Cup with HC Donbass and was named the best goaltender in the tournament.{{cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/competition/326/news/news-singleview-club-continental-cup/recap/7491.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D%3D7028%26cHash%3D213b662f3e |title=Donbass dethrones Dragons |accessdate=January 14, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116013905/http://www.iihf.com/competition/326/news/news-singleview-club-continental-cup/recap/7491.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=7028&cHash=213b662f3e |archivedate=January 16, 2013 }} On June 30, 2014, Laco signed one-year contract with Barys Astana.{{cite web| url = http://www.inform.kz/eng/article/2673632 | title = KHL: HC Barys sign Slovak goalie | publisher = inform.kz | date = July 1, 2014 | accessdate = July 14, 2014}}

International play

{{MedalCountry | {{ih|SVK}} }}

He played for Slovakia at the 2012 Ice Hockey World Championships where he won a silver medal and was named the tournament's top goaltender. Laco was named Slovak goaltender of the year in 2012{{cite web |url=http://www.championat.com/hockey/article-128815-laco-ja-mechtal-poluchit-jetot-priz.html |title=Ян Лацо - лучший вратарь Словакии - Чемпионат.com |website=www.championat.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221145736/http://www.championat.com/hockey/article-128815-laco-ja-mechtal-poluchit-jetot-priz.html |archive-date=2014-02-21}} and best World Championship 2012 Goalie.{{cite web |url=http://www.iihf.com/competition/272/news/news-singleview-2012/recap/6990.html |title=Battle for bronze |website=www.iihf.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523043828/http://www.iihf.com/competition/272/news/news-singleview-2012/recap/6990.html |archive-date=2012-05-23}} Laco was also chosen to the Slovak squad for the Ice hockey at the 2014 Winter Olympics, and took part in one group stage game, the last group stage game against Russia. Slovakia lost the game on penalties, but Laco got a lot of positive comments for his game and the big number of saves he made.{{cite web| url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/sochi/2014/02/16/russia-slovakia-hockey-winter-games-alexander-radulov-ilya-kovalchuk/5530993/ | title = Russia survives shootout to beat Slovakia | publisher = USA Today | date = February 16, 2014 | accessdate = July 14, 2014}}{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/rus-vs-svk/2014/02/16/2013090016 | title = Radulov, Kovalchuk lead Russia to shootout win | publisher = National Hockey League | date = February 16, 2014 | access-date = July 14, 2014}} Laco also took part in the 5-3 loss game to the Czech Republic.