The ice surface in the KV arena was undergoing the necessary repainting of advertisements, so the reigning world champions went to the small ice rink in the training hall. Because of this, the head coach proposed a change in the future that would solve this problem. “I would welcome it if the extra league rounds were played before the international break, for example on Thursday and Saturday, so that it would be enough to repaint the ice and the boys could take a breather,” added Rulík.
“But I don’t know the legislative stuff, maybe it won’t work, so hopefully everyone won’t immediately tear me apart for this idea,” he smiled. “Or the other option is to play on Friday and Saturday. The extra league lacks back-to-back matches (two matches in two days), which the players then complete on the Euro Hockey Tour and the World Championship. I politely raised this question, but it is said that it is not possible because of the sponsors, which I respect,” he explained.
Also due to the workload of the fifteen hockey players in the Tipsport Extra League on Sunday, the mandatory part of the training lasted only forty minutes. “It was short, but brisk and nourishing. I took into account the guys who played the match yesterday,” explained the 59-year-old coach.
Photo: Slavomír Kubeš, CTK
Czech hockey team coach Radim Rulík during training in Karlovy Vary
On Monday, he was still missing the striker of the Swedish team HV71, Radan Lence, who was called up due to injuries to Jiří Smejkal and Filip Zadina. “He was flying with a transfer and unfortunately he was late, so he didn’t make it to training,” Rulík said. Karlovy Vary junior David Varvařovský added to the national team so that the coach had five complete formations at his disposal.
The coach also explained the reasons why he chose Lenc and Michal Kunc from Olomouc as substitutes. “In the position of Smejkal and Zadina, who had health problems and needed to get together during the break, I started looking for similar types of players. I also contacted Matěj Stránský from Davos, who has a problem with the attractor, and Jindřich Abdul from Vítkovice, but he couldn’t either. He went for an x-ray with his hand and got a brace,” Rulík pointed out.
Photo: Slavomír Kubeš, CTK
Goalkeepers of the Czech national team during training in Karlovy Vary: (From left) Michal Postava, Jakub Málek, Ondřej Kacetl
So he had to reach out to other forwards. “We need 100 percent healthy players,” he realized. While he already has good experience with Lenec from the recent World Cup, where he played the role of a substitute, Kunc will make his debut in the national team. “We have been following him for a long time. Still a young player, he fits into our concept,” said the experienced coach.
As in previous Euro Hockey Tour tournaments, most hockey players will play two games, some will play three. The distribution of goalkeepers remains a question. Instead of the excused Josef Kořenář, Jakub Málek from the Finnish Ilves will get a chance, Ondřej Kacetl from Třinec is looking forward to his debut in the national team.
However, Rulík did not reveal whether he will catch Thursday’s duel in Karlovy Vary or wait until the weekend in Helsinki. “We will have fun with Ondřej Pavelec, I want to see them in training,” added the coach.
