The general manager of the Slovak ice hockey team, Miroslav Šatan, was satisfied with the performance of the national team at the 89th WC in Switzerland. He regretted that Vladimír Országh’s men did not advance to the knockout stage for the second time in a row, but the performances of the young players are meeting expectations. Satan believes that part of the rebuilding of the team, which also started with this tournament, will have a successful continuation.
The Slovaks lacked points from meetings with opponents stronger on paper, especially in the match with the Czechs, they were within reach. However, they lost 2:3, with the decisive goal coming from the skates of Czech captain Roman Červenka. “It was an interesting and exposed match with the Czechs. But it’s probably useless to go back to it. You’ve written enough about it yourself. Maybe the referees could have done some things better, but you can’t complain about that anymore. Sometimes sporting luck is simply missing.” stated Satan.
He announced that after this duel the Slovaks also filed a complaint in connection with the arbitrators’ statements: “Nand we got the answer that in the last two matches we got a Czech referee. I’m not going to comment on these things, it’s useless.” he added.
Slovakia’s offensive was led by the brothers Kristián and Martin Pospíšilovciboth of them often got into controversy with their opponents. “For us, they were key players who pulled the whole line. They fought, sometimes it was with emotions, but that’s okay, they belong to hockey. I think they were under control, it wasn’t anything that got in the way. I think it brought the right charge to the match and they supported those emotions with some goals and efficiency. However, we were also satisfied with other experienced players such as Misav Rosandič or Marek Hrivík, as well as with the young ones,” noted the head of Slovak hockey.
Katarína Pospíšilová, the mother of the mentioned hockey players, only had to agree with Satan. At the same time, however, she expressed clear disapproval of the way head coach Vladimír Országh used her sons in matches. According to her, they should have played much more.
“You can’t win when the potential leaders have almost as much ice time as the fourth formation. Sure, I understand that coaches want to give space to young players, show them to scouts or agents. What would Maťo and Kiko give for it at their age…” she commented in a comment on the social network, which was noticed by the portal.
“But damn, the first place must always be the effort to win the WC! And only then deal with some PR players and their presentation. Just look at the top teams. Swedes, Canadians, Czechs have a clear hierarchy. When the match breaks and it’s about everything, their best players just play more. That’s how it works everywhere.” Pospíšilová said.
She pointed out that in our country the formations alternate in line regardless of what is happening on the ice. “And then we are surprised that our opponents surpassed us… Kiko and Maťo had the form to take this team to the quarter-finals. It is difficult to do that when the coach uses you almost as outsiders and not as players on whom the whole team is supposed to stand.” the mother of the young talents started.
“In short, that’s not how it’s done… And that’s what sucks the most. It’s not that we were eliminated, but the way we lost the tournament. Because this team definitely had more to offer… it’s a shame!” she didn’t put a napkin in front of her mouth.
