Four losses at the beginning of the season, but then Třinec rose. Are you already in the table where you belong?
We want to step up our performances even more, we have more to do. The goal is the top four after the regular season, but we have to go step by step. The beginning was very bad. In the past, we have already experienced enough exits and in the end we reached the top four times. In addition, the coaches were changing now, the player turnover was also big, but the new guys fit into the team perfectly. We have a strong team and great character in the cabin. It is valuable that we can play at the top like this every year.
And the fact that you collect around a point per match every season is also valuable. How do you do this?
(smiles) It’s not easy. Three things are key. Excellent teammates and the confidence of the coaches. I have both in Trinec. And of course, my preparation and work are also essential. Over the years, I’ve already gathered experience to know how to prepare in the summer and get the most out of it in the winter.
Do you feel the years on your body at all?
Of course, I’m not 28 anymore. Sometimes something hurts or pricks me. I need to relax more during the season. And on the contrary, I can’t take a long break after the season. I fall off the merry-go-round and it hurts a lot to go back to training. But when I’m on pace, the body works well.
Are you happy that you are still pulling Steelers, or would you be happy to hand over your responsibility to younger people?
Difficult question. Of course, I’m happy that I can still play at a high level. But of course I would be happy if one of the young guys showed up.
When you first came to Třinec in 2009, did you think that you would spend most of your career here?
Not even in a dream. Over the years, I have developed an extraordinary relationship with the club and the people in it. Třinec is my second family. And a second home. I spend most of my time here now, I found my wife.
Can you tell which of the four Steelers titles is the most valuable to you?
I value two a little more. The first with Třinec in 2011 was amazing, a first for the organization. And the last one is even more valuable to me. It is not easy to win once in any sport. And we did it three times in a row. The hat-trick was sweet, a lot of work was behind it.
Even after so many successes, you can still see how you hate losing. The last time you foamed at Sparta was on Tuesday and the club was fined for criticizing the referees. Has the competitiveness left you?
Absolutely not, the desire to win is ingrained in me and will probably stay with me forever. What happened in Sparta happened. I was sorry for the offense against the whole club, and that’s why I had to speak up. I don’t regret it.
When did the frustration leave you?
I still felt her on Thursday. We should have been given the opportunity to do something with the match, but we didn’t. I got sent off for the same tackle in the second period for the same tackle, but he didn’t whistle a minute and a half before the end. God knows how the duel would turn out. But I don’t want to deal with it anymore. I respect that I was fined.
Do you feel positive that you still care so much about results and do everything to win?
Hundred percent. I still have the fire in me. It is the most important. I want to help the team as much as possible. I definitely don’t plan to slow down. As soon as I feel that the fire is dying down, I will give up hockey and hang my skates on a nail.
And what if you personally stop doing so well?
It’s certainly possible for that to happen. But I didn’t really think about it. I hope the lust stays with me.
Would you like to finish your career in Třinec?
It would be nice. I’ve been here for almost 11 years now and I’ve had a ton of success. I would like to end here. And what happens after that, I’ll see. During long bus journeys, I think about what I will do after my career. But I’m not decided yet. At times I feel like I won’t want to move at all during hockey, a few weeks later my thoughts turn 180 degrees again. I mainly want to do what I enjoy.
