Zvolen Manager: Coaching & Content Roles – Interview

“HKM it is an honor and glory, be aware of it.” Such a legacy was given to Zvolen’s hockey players from the fans last December, when they were bothered at the bottom of the extra -league table.

The pre-season targets of the first four placement disappeared and the team had to fight at least to participate in the playoffs round. In January came a coaching change – Martin Štrba was replaced by experienced Peter Mikula.

The Zvolen “Knights” gradually gathered, fought to the playoffs and there were eliminated Slovan Bratislava and the winner of the regular season from Spišská Nová Ves. They exhibited the stopwatch in the semi -finals of Košice, so they finished the season in the final 4th place. However, they were not satisfied under the Pustý Castle.

Before the start of the new year’s sports manager Ladislav Čierny rejects the Great Hoor statements. Instead, he hopes that the team will be particularly entertained by the audience with attractive hockey.

Let’s go back to the past season. Zvolen had a very bad introduction, after eight rounds he had only one win and he sank at the bottom of the table. If you look at it with hindsight, what was the cause of failure?

Until January it was very difficult, we played by 9. Or 10. There was no satisfaction with that. I think the cadre was good, we made some exchanges, but it didn’t help.

In January you finally exchanged coach – Martin Štrba was replaced by experienced Peter Mikula. Was it the right choice in the end?

It was the hardest exchange, but we had to do it to give the team a new impulse. Nothing else left us.

The coach could not give advice with the players and probably there had to come a person to whom hockey players have more respect.

Peťo Mikula and the team made great progress and it was also reflected in the playoffs.

You said “the coach couldn’t give advice with the players”. Were there any disagreements between the team and the coach?

Hard to say, but I think I guess. They didn’t go well with the coach, they just didn’t fit.

It is difficult to evaluate it from my position, I do not want to speak as a coach or players, but we saw that it could not. The mismatch between the cadre and the coach was then transmitted to the ice. I think the exchange finally helped the team.

With similar results crises, a coach is usually approached, as it is easier than to replace multiple players. In this case, however, did the hockey players themselves have a share of responsibility?

Of course. We often talked to them, we dealt with it. Certainly it was not just about the coach, but also about the players. We can’t blame all the coach, certainly not.

There are players who are well paid to play and talk. There must be professionals if it is then approached. To training and then to the matches.

As a former player, did you try to pass on your team experience from your active times in this situation?

Certainly yes. I told them several times how I worked when I had problems with the coach and so on. We talked it, but it didn’t help anyway.

What changed in the cabin coach Mikula that later the team managed to win again?

He changed enough – the system, trainings and last but not least access to the match. Surely he was also helped by the respect he has over the years.

You finally turned the result misery, you eliminated Slovan in the preliminary round of the playoffs and later in the quarterfinals and the winner of the basic part of Spišská Nová Ves. So you can evaluate the year as successful?

(Laughter) Hard to say. Yes, we finished the year in the fourth place, which was a pre -season goal, but if I had to evaluate it globally, the season was not what we imagined.

We had to make many changes in the team, the coach and there was a lot of pressure on us. We liked the end of the season, we eliminated one strong opponent, then the other, but the three -quarters of the year was not good.

Before the new season, 8 players left the team, while 9 hockey players were added. Was such a great variation of the cadre needed?

Certainly yes. It was necessary to bring new blood, new players. I think the cabin should be revived every year.

In addition to one player, you also exchanged all imports. You currently have seven of them on the roster, but only six legionnaires can start from the new year. How will you deal with this situation?

Canadian defender Gianni Fairbrother remained on the team, but has problems with the knee if the team will join in September. However, it is still put together and convalescence will still take some time, about two months.

We wanted to solve it like this and have one of them in reserve. If everyone is healthy, one of them will certainly not play. However, we are also ready for a variant when everything is not right.

How did the club accept a change in the form of a reduction in legionnaires?

Basically, we agreed. As clubs we negotiated with the union and most of us voted in favor of reducing the number of foreign players. The aim should thus be the preference of Slovaks.

The name of Jayce Hawryluk stands out most from foreign players. Manager Patrik Ryba said he will “be not only among the best team players, but also the whole competition”. What do you promise from him?

We expect Hawryluk the most. He is the most experienced player, he has had matches in the NHL, he should be the leader of Zvolen. Expectations are great, but we’ll see.

Before the new year you also engaged his former teammate Tanner Kaspick. Do you want to restore their successful cooperation from the Junior WHL, where they celebrated the title together?

Yes, we talked to them together, they know each other very well. It’s just a bonus that they’ve already played together.

The defense of the new year was reinforced by representative Andrej Golian, who returned to Zvolen after eight years. What do you expect from him?

We expect to be the leader of the defense. In addition to Andrej we also have Juraj Valach and Michal Beň, they are all experienced players. I think the defense will be firm and that this three will hold it.

The defender you signed during the summer was also Milan Pišoja. However, according to the information, he also had a contract in Slavs and eventually received a punishment from the Disciplinary Commission for six months. Can you clarify what stage the case is?

We are waiting for the decision of the Arbitration Commission, which is not yet able to do anything because it has ended the mandate and the executive by exposing the SZĽH must choose new members.

Then when the commission sets out, it is said whether Slav had law to the player or not. Of course, Slav filed a complaint, but we did the same. At least he will play in December, for which I would not like very much, but, unfortunately.

When the Arbitration Commission decides, is it possible that Pišoja will be able to play before the sentence?

Yes, sure.

Can you clarify where the problem with Pišoj actually occurred?

Milan Pišoja had signed a contract in Zvolen. He signed the transfer tickets, the register wrote it down and we did not do anything wrong. He is a Zvolen player.

Did you know at that time that he had an agreement with Slavs?

These are things between Pišoj and Slavs. We did not solve this at all, but these are more of questions about Milan.

Did he attend the summer preparation with the Zvolen team?

He trains with us, he works honestly. We wanted to put it in preparation, but according to the rules it should not be played until the commission decides on the matter. So we’re waiting.

In the goal you will rely mainly on Pavel Kantor, but in the preparation Roman Petrík also showed well. Do goalkeepers have clearly given tasks?

Paľo Kantor should be the unit and Roman Petrík Dvojka. However, it will depend on performance. I will leave it to coach Mikula, who will decide. However, I think Petrík showed good performances.

When viewing the team rosters, I came across one interesting name – Alex Ferreira. According to EliteProspects.com, a 16-year-old defender was born in the US, but also has Slovak citizenship. Can you explain its origin?

He came to us from America, I don’t know complete details. He started training with us and showed up in very good light. But he was slowed down by his shoulder injury, he had surgery, so he’s only starting now.

Will get a chance in the A-team?

We’ll see how he can do it. Coach Mikula knows about him, trained with us, but he dropped out for health problems. But the door to the main team is always open, it will only depend on its form.

What budget do you enter into the new season?

Let me just say that we increased the budget compared to last season.

In preparation for the new season you played eight matches with a balance of five wins and three losses. How satisfied with the team of the team and the game speech are you in the club?

The preparation was long, some matches were excellent, some not. However, we are satisfied. We will discuss the mistakes that the players made, but also the good things with the coaches and prepare responsibly for the league.

You played the last preparatory match on September 3, and the league starts only 9 days later. Isn’t it too early to finish your preparation?

Coach Mikula chose it this way, it was his decision.

Have you set any goals before the start of the season? What will Zvolen dare for?

After the last year, I can not set any goals (laughs). Of course, we want to play good hockey to make everyone happy. Players know that Zvolen has great ambitions, so it will depend on how they will happen. But I will not say any forecasts.

The new Tipsport League will start a derby match in Banská Bystrica. Fans will probably have something to look forward to.

We’d prefer to play at home. But it is not far to Banská Bystrica, so I believe it will be similar to being on home ice. Certainly it will be a very interesting match at the beginning of the year.