Every year during the World Hockey Championships, this tournament arouses the passion of most Slovaks. Among the spectators, there are also those who take this sport perhaps too seriously and share their negative emotions on social networks after the match. Unsurprisingly, blame is being placed on specific players. However, family members of our representatives will also contact us from time to time. That’s what happened after the loss before the semi-finals, when the mother of Martin and Kristián Pospíšilov did not spare critical words. Coach Vladimír Országh responded to her statement.
After leaving the championship, the general manager of the Slovak hockey team, Miroslav Šatan, highlighted the qualities of Martin and Kristián. “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 Mislav 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 nearly as much ice time as the fourth line. Sure, I understand that coaches want to give space to young players, show them to scouts or agents. What Maťa and Kiko would give for it at their age…” she noted in a comment on the social network, which was noticed by the portal.
„But damn, in 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 game boils down and everything is at stake, their best players simply play more. That’s how it works everywhere” Pospíšilová said.
She pointed out that our formations alternate row by row 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’s difficult to do that when the coach uses you almost as outsiders and not as players on whom the entire team should stand,” said the mother of young talents.
„In short, that’s not how it’s done… And that’s what sucks the most. Not that we got knocked out, but the way we lost that tournament. Because this team was definitely up for more… it’s a shame!” she put her napkin in front of her mouth.
The coach of our team, Vladimír Országh, had nothing to say about Ms. Pospíšilová’s complaints. “No, I won’t comment on that,” he responded. He did not answer questions about whether he communicated with the mother of his two children after this harsh criticism.
