In the Czech Republic, they remember Slafkovský: As a 15-year-old, he already weighed 90 kilograms. He was a finished guy – ŠPORT.SK

today 16:25 | Juraj Slafkovský has had a sleepy ride behind him, which ended in July after the representatives of the Montreal Canadiens chose him from the first position in this year’s draft. During his short career, the native of Košice already had time to experience life in Austria, Finland, but also in the neighboring Czech Republic, where he is remembered only in good terms. “Juraj came to us as a teenager, but even then he weighed 90 kilograms. Biologically, he was a complete man. Even then you could guess that he had a big career ahead of him. His parents are very aware and he is well behaved. I never doubted that he could make it to the NHL. First he was in Salzburg, then he came to us in the Czech Republic and from us he made his way to Finland. It could be seen that he is doing very well mentally. He really knew what he wanted from life,” Hradec Králové coach Tomáš Martinec tells iSport.cz. Juraj Slafkovský spent a significant part of the 2018/19 season in the Czech Republic, when he played 22 games for Hradec in the under-16 category, in which he scored a great 42 Canadian points. Even then, it was clear that he was superior to his peers on the ice, which Tomáš Martinec confirms: “He was ready for adult hockey, we even discussed the contract with his parents. We had a plan to include him in the first team. Finland is, of course, a good route, even if he didn’t get that much space there. But it certainly helped Juraj that the Slovak national team was rebuilt and the coaches gave him a chance in the senior national team. But he then repaid the trust given to the coaches and performed incredible performances at major international tournaments. With the passage of time, I can say that he made an excellent decision.” Juraj Slafkovský after the draft in the jersey of the Montreal Canadiens. Source: SITA/AP HE WILL GET A CHANCE AND HE CAN DEFINITELY SUCCEED But now Slafkovský’s performances at the Olympics or the World Cup are in the past, so to speak, and the most important thing will be to focus only on the present. The key will be in what light the native of Košice will appear at the upcoming training camp of Montreal. After all, the NHL is the best hockey league in the world and making a name for yourself in it is not an easy task at all. “A coach’s ego is always pleased when you can contribute at least a small piece to the fact that a player has moved up and developed his game. This feeling then kicks you with every other boy. I would very much like Juraj to have a great career in Montreal. He will get a chance and he can definitely succeed overseas. After all, it’s no coincidence what he performed in the Slovak jersey at the Olympics and also at the World Cup,” Hradec Králové coach Tomáš Martinec concludes for iSport.cz.