Forward Ivan Ivan has made his dream debut in the NHL. It became unique for him thanks to the fact that he experienced it in the jersey of the Colorado Avalanche team, which he has been a fan of since he was a child. In an interview with the Guerilla Sports server, the Czech hockey player said that he had experienced one of the best days in his life.
With his very first start, Ivan took care of writing in the history of the league, whose history began in November 1917. He became the first player whose last name is exactly the same as his first name, who ever started in the NHL.
“This is a truly wonderful day for me, quite possibly one of the best of my life,” Ivan declared. “I haven’t had the chance to experience such feelings yet, but when I woke up in the morning, I felt that this was a different day than usual. It’s surreal. And I’m experiencing great feelings,” said Ivan.
Although he did not fit into the roster during the final narrowing of the Avalanche staff, he was not missing during the premiere of the team from Denver in the new season on the ice of the Vegas Golden Knights, as he was called back to the first team. “I think my whole family at home got up before five o’clock and dad took the day off from work,” Ivan noted.
Nervousness did not bind him. “I’ve been able to work with her better and better over the course of my career as my career progresses. You have to try to take it easy, focus on what I can do and believe in my abilities,” said the 22-year-old center.
In his debut, he played 15 substitutions and spent a total of almost ten minutes on the ice. He did not score, but despite the 4:8 defeat, he remained at zero in the evaluation of participation on the ice. He thus followed up on successful performances in training, during which he scored a goal and an assist in four matches. “I got good feedback, it’s always nice to hear positive things, it cheers you up,” said Ivan.
Coach Jared Bednar praised him after preseason games. “He’s had really good consistent performances throughout camp. It’s obvious how he’s stepped up his game, there’s no question about that. He looks like he’s definitely more confident and comfortable than he was during last year’s preseason,” Bednar compared.
And why does the Ostrava native’s heart belong to Colorado? “I played quite a lot with my dad on the PlayStation. I don’t even know what it was all about, but I just liked Colorado,” explained Ivan, whose father is former extra-league striker Marek Ivan.
He took a liking to Avalanche when he was five to six years old. He looked up to his players, but one stood above all the others. Probably because of the video game. “I remember that the highest rated player overall was Joe Sakic back then,” Ivan named the club icon and current head of hockey operations for the Avalanche.
“He was my favorite player because he was the best in the team. It was a team that was full of legends. I don’t remember the others, but there were a lot of good players,” added Ivan.
But it is very similar even now in the real world. Superstars like Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar or Mikko Rantanen are starting for Colorado. “I watch them. And I notice every detail. I want to learn as much as I can from them, thanks to which I improve myself. It’s great to have the opportunity to see them play. After all, they are the best players in the world,” stated Ivan.
But he will have to wait for the next opportunity among the hockey elite. The Avalanche sent him back to the farm to the Colorado Eagles in the AHL after the game. But no one will ever take away his debut with an entry in the chronicles.
