Celebrations of bronze hockey players: Ramsay, Šatan and players evaluate ZOH 2022 – SME.sk

BRATISLAVA. “When Miro Šatan and Igor Andrejkovič (national team video editor, editor’s note) came, everything changed. We started winning matches,” coach Craig Ramsay smiled at the press conference as he asked what was the key moment of the bronze success in Beijing.

Despite the fact that the Slovaks lost the first two matches in the tournament with Finland and Sweden, according to Ramsay, the team’s performance was worth winning.

It was only a matter of time before it affected the results. The form of the Slovak national team graduated in the bronze medal match against the Swedes.

“The last third of the tournament was the best I experienced in hockey. We were strong and tough. The boys clearly went for the victory. I was very proud of all the players and the whole of Slovakia,” said Ramsay.

The coach went to bed at half past four

The general manager of the Slovak national team, Miroslav Šatan, was most looking forward to the bronze celebrations with fans on SNP Square in Bratislava.

“The last time we celebrated with the fans was ten years ago after a silver medal. Of the current team, only Libor Hudáček from the current team experienced the celebrations, for the others it will be the premiere.

“People can forget about their problems, at least for a while, and enjoy a beautiful success with us,” said Satan.

Coach Ramsay was tired at the press conference. Journalists asked him if it was related to the celebrations that took place with the players in Beijing.

“The bronze medal match started very late. When we were sitting in the room, I asked what time it was. Someone said it was half past four in the morning. I immediately went to bed.

The boys destroyed my suit and shirt at the celebrations. They poured me an ionic drink. But it was really special for me to celebrate with them, “Ramsay admitted.

Satan: Many did not believe our philosophy

For Šatan this is the fifth medal with the Slovak national team. He won four as a player and for the first time participated in a precious metal as an official.

“We officials did not receive the medal, but I advise this success in the same place as the previous ones. I am glad that I was able to be in whatever position,” said Satan, for whom bronze from Beijing is also a form of satisfaction.

“Several people doubted the choice of coach Ramsay. They didn’t even believe the philosophy we chose. Those who understand it had to see improving performance.

However, the results gradually came. I hope that we will be able to enforce a methodology similar to the one we have set at the national level within clubs. It can help Slovak hockey, “said Šatan, who believes that the success of hockey players will help kick the whole Slovak sport.

After coach Craig Ramsay and general manager Miroslav Šatan, players, namely six Slafkovský, Hrivík, Cehlárik, Marinčin, Regenda and Rybár, appeared before the journalists.

They attribute fatigue to the inflated program

Not only on coach Ramsay, but also on the players, it was clear that they were a little tired. The very first question at the press conference was aimed at the celebrations.

“We did not enjoy it as we would have imagined it, as we were in an Olympic village where everything was closed. But now we are here and we are going to enjoy it, “said Marek Hrivík at the beginning and attributed the fatigue to traveling.

“We played a lot of meetings in a few days. Fatigue has hit us all, whether it’s players or members of the implementation team, ”he added.

The players were also asked how they would spend the next days after arriving from Beijing.

“I think each of us will enjoy a day after the celebrations – two with our families and then we will all head back to the clubs.

It is very specific, as the season continues, some of us still have matches in the basic part, others only the playoffs, “said Cehlárik for all, who also pointed out his most impressive moment of the tournament.

“Everyone experienced a lot of emotional moments in the tournament. For me, it was definitely Marekov (Hrivíkov, author’s note) equalizing a goal at the end of the match against the United States, as well as my decisive goal in separate raids, “said Cehlárik.

Slafkovský: Keeping to the ground is important

In addition to Hrivík and Cehlárik, Juraj Slafkovský, the most useful player of the tournament, who grew not only in terms of gaming, but also in terms of the number of followers on Instagram, was among the first to present the journalists.

“Most of them were added on the last day. However, I don’t think it’s an important thing in life, “he said, stressing at the press conference that it was important to stay grounded.

“It simply came to my notice then. And, of course, everyone who wants to help me in my career, including these two gentlemen (Hrivík and Cehlárik, author’s note) who stand next to me.

“Hat down before he showed us all. I believe that he will continue to prosper. And I will show us all much more than I do now. He has a lot ahead of him and I also believe that he has it set up correctly in his head so that nothing affects him. I’m not afraid that he won’t stand on the ground, “Hrivík said about Slafkovsky.

The young Košice player also answered the question which goal in the tournament he will remember the most.

“Definitely the one in the meeting against Sweden. To score in the bronze medal and still be so happy… I’ll tell you the truth, I didn’t even believe it would fit there. ”

The fisherman highlighted the intervention against the Swedes

Patrik Rybár, a goalkeeper, was also an extremely important figure in the Slovak team. At a press conference, one of the journalists present compared him to the wall. The best goalkeeper of the tournament also answered the question which intervention he considers most important.

“If I have to remember this in a hurry, it was probably an intervention in the second period of the bronze medal match against the Swedes, when a player pushed their puck into an empty goal and hit me with concrete,” said the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

“It seems to me that if it were a goal, they would reduce the team to 1: 1 or 1: 2 and then it would be much harder for us,” he added, describing the communication with Father Paul, who has celebrated several in the past. representational achievements.

“We haven’t talked live together yet. After a match with the Finns, he wrote me emotionally that I was better than him. There will be time for our joint conversation. ”

“My father helped me a lot. We also had video analysis together. I’m glad you took the time to edit a few videos. The rest is up to me. ”

They are not considering changing the jersey yet

In addition to Rybár, Pavol Regenda was the key figure in the meeting against the Swedes, the forward of Michalovce, who, as he himself admitted, avoided people before the tournament to prevent coronavirus infection.

He was asked how he saw his future.

“First of all, my goal is to fight in the playoffs with Michalovce and we will see what happens next. I’m glad that I was able to be on the team and also for the fact that I was successful, “he said.

Marinčin’s defender, who previously worked in the NHL, is not even considering changing the jersey after a successful appearance at the Olympic Games.

“Would I take an offer from the NHL with all ten? I would definitely love to go back there, but now I’m in the Czech Republic. We will see what the future holds. ”

After winning, Duchoň played in the cabin

At the end of the press conference, the players were also asked what music played in the cabin at the tournament in Beijing.

“The winning song in the cabin was the song I Love You by Karol Duchoň,” said Martin Marinčin, and the players subsequently named Marek Hrivík, Marek Dan and Libor Hudáček as locker room DJs.

All about hockey at the 2022 Olympic Games