Sportka, Třinec & Olympics: Czech Hockey’s Last Chance?

(NEW JERSEY, from our correspondent) He is fighting for the Olympics in Milan, Italy, while also enjoying his time at the old address. We are talking about the great worker Radek Faks, who after a year in St. Louis returned “home” to Dallas, with whom he is experiencing a successful season – the last time the Stars celebrated a 3-0 win on the ice of New Jersey. That’s not all the 31-year-old striker talked about in an exclusive interview for Hokej.cz in the bowels of the Prudential Center.

Radek, you scored for the eighth time in a row, even the twelfth time outside. I assume that the club is satisfied with the current performances and results…
So far, yes. I have to say that the beginning was a bit hectic. We won the first four games, then there was a small crisis, we lost some games and it was a bit nervous, but since then it has settled down and we are playing a system that we have never played here. However, I had the advantage of having already experienced the defensive zone last year in St. Louis. The whole team played together, we are doing well.

What is his greatest strength?
We have four excellent lines. Our power play is doing great, we have perhaps the best in the entire league. We were weak at the beginning, but the last few games are picking up again. I think we just had a bad streak. And we have two excellent goalkeepers. When we need it, they intercept us and always make some excellent saves.

What are the club’s ambitions? Are you also aiming for the Stanley Cup, which Dallas has been waiting for since 1999?
Certainly. If a person didn’t have such ambitions, then something is probably wrong. We know how many excellent players we have in the cabin. But the playoffs are difficult, many other teams are aiming for the cup. He has to sit it all down. First we have to make the best possible position for the playoffs, then anything can happen. We certainly have the team to at least go to the finals.

You returned to the familiar address where you previously spent nine seasons after a year. You don’t see that often…
It doesn’t happen, I was honestly a bit shocked that the offer came. My wife asked me because she likes Dallas so much, what are the chances of us going back there. So I told her that it was about as big as when you win a Sportka. And the next day the agent called me that Dallas was coming with an offer. Such a small miracle.

You had other, even financially more interesting, offers. Was Dallas the top choice?
Yes, I have already thought a little about the family side. And also that there is a chance for the Stanley Cup. Dallas has high ambitions and I’m not the youngest anymore. That was also a big part of why I chose Dallas even though I had an offer for more money.

What was it like to return to familiar surroundings?
It was a bit new for me at first. New management, new coaches, some guys came new… But after a month it felt like I never left. I’m glad to feel at home here, Dallas is my second home. I was surprised how the fans and everyone at the club welcomed me. I’m glad for that, it made the start easier for me and the whole family.

How do you retrospectively evaluate the annual engagement in St. Louis?
I think it was a great experience for me. I learned something new, I’ve never been on a team other than Dallas. I met new guys, I got a chance, I played a lot. I think we played well and the second half of the season was successful. Since the new coach Montgomery came in, things have picked up tremendously, we’ve had maybe 20 wins out of 24 games, made the playoffs and upset the President’s Cup winner. I rate it very positively.

You have the business card of a typical fourth-line worker, but you used to pay more for a shooter. Was it difficult to get used to the new role?
You just have to adapt. I had to change my game to get to the NHL. It all started when I went from junior high to a farm where there was an excellent Calder Cup team. There was no place other than the fourth row. That’s where it suited me, we won the AHL and it stayed with me ever since.

Radek Faksa | Photo: Dallas Stars Facebook

The Olympics start in two months, do you have it on your mind a lot?
People always ask me about it, I see it in the media too, I read the Czech ones, so I definitely have it in my head. It’s my first chance to go to the Olympics, and at the same time maybe my last. It’s a big topic in the NHL too.

The Olympics is the big dream of almost every player, right?
Certainly. Especially for us Czechs when we watched Nagano. The Olympics is the most, everyone wants to represent their country. It’s a holiday for every athlete. It’s held once every four years and you don’t have that many chances to get there, so it would definitely be a dream come true.

How do you see your chances of getting an Olympic nomination?
About fifty-fifty. I think I play well, in a good team, stable. I have to keep going, I want to go after it, influence what I can influence and see if it comes.

At the same time, it would also be a great return to the national team, the last time you played at the World Cup 2019…
I always went far in the playoffs with Dallas, so I didn’t have much of a chance. And last year we went all the way to the seventh game, I wasn’t under contract for that and we just had our second child. So the last time was Bratislava, I have great memories of it, even if they were a little bitter when we lost to the Russians only after raids for bronze. But otherwise a great tournament, I remember it very fondly.

Are you missing any Czech or Slovak partners in the cabin?
It’s certainly always nice when you have a Czech or Slovak in the dressing room, actually I had someone for about the first seven years, but now I don’t even mind. I have fun with all the guys, we have a lot of Europeans in the team. I have Aleš Hemský here when I want to chat with someone.

What is life like in Dallas?
Cool, I think it’s one of the best cities in the NHL. Awesome family life, beautiful weather, low taxes and great fans. Even though hockey is on the rise there, you also have your peace of mind.

How do you enjoy being a dad?
That’s the most for me. Hockey is great, but the kids… When you come out of a game upset and see the kids, it immediately lifts your spirits. I’m enjoying it so much. I think it calmed me down a bit, I think differently. I sorted out my priorities and now I’m happy. I love hockey very much, but children and family are the most.

The Christmas holidays are approaching, have you gotten used to the American one yet?
We still celebrate Czech. The little one is already four years old and goes to kindergarten, so we mix things up a bit. Santa and Jesus come to us, so it’s a bit more complicated, but we have Czech sweets, we unwrap presents in the evening, we observe Czech traditions, we watch Czech fairy tales. You can get everything here, so we really have a full-fledged Czech Christmas.

Have you already thought about whether you will return to the Czech Republic after your career or stay overseas?
We’ve certainly talked about it before. We love Dallas, it will always be a second home for us, but family, friends… Then we plan to return to the Czech Republic.

Before going overseas, you worked in Třinec, do you still follow it?
I follow, I am still in contact with Honza Peterek. I also know some guys there, for example David Cienciala. I’m a fan of Třinec, he’s my favorite and I’m grateful for how he helped me in my career, so I won’t let him down.

What do you think of the top organization it has become?
It has changed quite a bit since I was there. I still played at the old hall (smiles). It is something unreal, even the youth have risen a lot. Sometimes I go there in the summer to train. We have been training with Ondra Palát and other guys in Frýdek-Místek for years. We are excited and it’s great to see how Třinec has moved and what a top hall it has.

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