Did you have any idea that the coach of the native Radim Rulík could nominate you for the tournament in Karlstad?
When Ondra Pavelec (goalkeeper coach at the national team) called me, I was very surprised. We have a lot of good goalkeepers in the Extraliga and actually all over Europe who could go instead of me. Moreover, I didn’t even make it through the youth national teams.
Photo: Vlastimil Vacek, Sport.cz
Šimon Zajíček will make his debut in the national team at the Swedish Games.
At the same time, you should have been in the national team at the Swiss Games in December…
But in the last match before the break, I pulled a puller in Pardubice. I was disappointed, but I immediately made up my mind that I have to keep working hard to get into the national team.
Which is now successful, you are doing well in Litvínov. Did you notice voices before the season that the goalkeeper duo Zajíček – Tomek could be Verva’s weakness?
You know I heard it. However, I think that we are quite successful in refuting such speculations with our performances. But it’s not just about us.
Photo: Vlastimil Vacek, Sport.cz
The Litvín goalkeeper Šimon Zajíček claimed a representative nomination with his performances in the extra league.
The Litvín goalkeeper coach Zdeněk Orct says that you are a good guy, sometimes too big. Do you agree with him?
I agree. Maybe I don’t even want to lecture my teammates in the field when they do something wrong. Even Ori (Orct), who is an idol for me because of his approach to hockey and his former career, recently told me that I am not yet old enough to yell at someone in the cabin. So I rather praise.
You say you are phlegmatic. Is there really so little that gets you off your feet on the ice?
I think of myself as phlegmatic, although I am working to be even better. I don’t allow myself to be pressured, I won’t be swayed by a silly conceded goal. If I thought about him on the ice for a few more minutes, it wouldn’t help. I prefer to put everything behind me right away and concentrate on the next shot.
Photo: Vlastimil Vacek, Sport.cz
Goalkeepers Šimon Zajíček (left) and Jakub Málek during training of the hockey team.
What percentage of performance do you think is the goalie’s head?
Ori says 90 percent and I agree with him. It has already happened to me that before a match I felt that my head was not set correctly, and then it showed in the performance. I looked like enough pucks, I was getting cheaper goals. The head is really very important.
Do you think that if the Swedish Games were successful, you could say for example about the role of the three at the home world championship?
I don’t think about that at all. We have a lot of goalkeepers here who are ahead of me and have a better chance.
2024-02-08 08:19:19
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