Photo: Petr Kotala, hc-vitkovice.cz
He did not start in Olomouc and against Pardubice due to injury, but in the third round on the Vítkovice ice, Michael Frolík was no longer missing from Kladno’s lineup. He wore the Knights jersey after more than seventeen years! “It was special for me,” admits the experienced striker, who helped the visitors to a valuable 3:2 triumph after raids. “Luck? It remains to be seen,” he smiles.
“I think we didn’t play a bad game. We deserved extra time and then decided in raids. These are important points for us. Let’s hope they kick us,” wishes the seasoned striker, who started in the third attacking formation alongside youngsters Jaromír Pytlík and Ondřej Bláha.
How did you feel after the injury?
We wondered if I would even play. I couldn’t do anything for almost three weeks, now I did two training sessions and immediately went to the match. Nothing easy, but physically I felt somehow good. It will still take a while for the game. I didn’t play much in the preparation either. I felt better and better in it, but then an injury came and I’m starting again from the beginning. I’m happy to be here, to be able to help the boys and get a feel for the pace of the match. I hope that I will feel better and better and that my health will last.
“I couldn’t do anything for almost three weeks, now I did two training sessions and went straight to the match. Nothing easy, but physically I felt somehow good. It will still take a while for the game.”
You jumped behind Kladno exactly after 6,406 days, what has changed there during that time?
The stadium has been renovated, so there are definitely some new and nice things. The pitch has narrowed, the guardrails are new, but the biggest change is probably the renovated cabin. On the other hand, a lot of things are similar there, and it’s strange that they stayed the same after such a long time. I have great memories of my youth there, when the boys and I won a lot. It’s powerful.
You now have Jaromir Jágr behind you, does he talk a lot about it?
It can be seen that Jarda experiences the matches a lot, he is addicted to it, which is only good. I think he really knows what he’s talking about. He has a lot of experience, he’s been through a lot. We try to listen to him, so far so good.
In the summer, you declared an attack on the playoffs, is that still valid?
It is still too early to evaluate anything after three rounds, the season is long. But already in the previous matches in Olomouc and against Pardubice, the boys were close to the points. The performances were not bad, there is definitely something to build on, which we also showed in Vítkovice.
How do you think you achieved your first victory of the season?
We performed as a team and all four lines were pedaling. That’s what we need for everyone to play a good match. Performance was a bit up and down, but overall it was decent from us. As I said, there is a lot to build on. Bringing two points from Vítkovice will boost our confidence.
“It was special for me to join the champion for my home club after such a long time, but I am looking forward to coming home even more. A full barrack could come to Sparta.”
How did you feel in the third period, when it was basically just one goal?
I think we were better again in the second half. They probably said something to each other and flew at us a bit. They shut us down a few times in the third, they had chances there, but Landon Bow was making excellent catches. He kept us up and the boys then defended the weakness towards the end excellently. However, this must not happen to us, so that we are so excluded. We’ll have to look into that next time. Good teams are built on power plays, fouls must be avoided.
In the second period, Jakub Strnad performed an exhibition bodysuit on the linesman Vladimír Rožánek, did you comment on it in any way during the substitution?
We laughed a little that he might have mistaken him for an opponent. It’s just part of it, sometimes referees get involved in the game. We hope he will be okay.
Photo: Petr Kotala, hc-vitkovice.cz
In the end, you faced a separate raid, what was missing?
I wanted to do something like Pleky, but it didn’t really fit. Sometimes I did it in training, that I pass from the left side to the right and throw it up on the catcher, but it wasn’t a very big hit. I wanted to try to surprise him, but it didn’t work out. God made Pleka pay and the goalie kept us.
Sparta will be waiting for you at home on Sunday, that will be even more special for you, won’t it?
It is so. It was special for me to join the champion for my home club after such a long time, but I am looking forward to going home even more. A full house could come to Sparta. For us it is such a derby.
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2023-09-22 19:54:00
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