yesterday 09:00
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Adam Sýkora is having an amazing year, which continued in the last few days with the New York Rangers rookie camp. He became the first Slovak hockey player in history to sign a contract with an NHL team at the age of seventeen!
Ready to be a leader
The smiling young man also drove the overseas media crazy at the camp with his energy, which praised his contribution. The Rangers did not hesitate and immediately signed a rookie contract with their first pick in the last draft. “I can’t even describe it, it’s still growing. It makes me very happy. I’ve been having a lot of it since January. I hope it will continue like this,” Adam Sýkora told us after returning to Slovakia.
The whole situation before sealing the contract with the famous club from the original six of the NHL completed the winger’s amazing story. “On the last day, we had a simulated match at the camp. Right before him, the head of prospecting at Rangers came to see me. He told me to stop by the General Manager Mr. Chris Drury before or after the meeting. I told him that I needed to warm up.
We agreed that I would go there only after the match. As we finished playing, overseas journalists stopped me and asked me if I was ready to sign a rookie contract. I stood in disbelief. There were huge emotions in me,” the youngest among the Slovaks drafted this year described the situation to us.
PROBABLY STILL IN NITRA
The rookie contract does not guarantee anything yet, but there is a sense that the predatory striker has confused the Rangers management. After the draft, it looked like an overseas junior, but after that there was more talk about possibilities in senior clubs.
“With the contract, I also asked for a pre-season camp, where I definitely want to fight for a place in the first team, even though I am aware that this is a much higher level of demand. I think I will probably play in Nitra this season, but it can change. The definitive should be in August after the Junior World Championship. Our league is high-quality, and I think that another year in Nitra wouldn’t hurt me,” revealed Adam Sýkora.
The participant of the last senior world championships in Finland described how he is satisfied with the performances in the rookie camp. “I was pleased that I was well physically prepared despite the short summer training. We had tests there on dry land and on ice. I performed well and I believe I attracted attention. I’m glad they don’t have players like me, but the NHL level is a much higher level. I still have to work hard on myself,” he repeated.
Adam Sýkora
Source: instagram.com/adamsykora_14
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The situation so far indicates that the Slovakian junior national team will be missing its biggest stars at the Under-20 World Championships in Edmonton. For Sýkora, the possibility of being one of the leaders of the team opens up, as he himself really wants to go to the tournament.
“I am trying to prepare mentally and physically that it will be difficult without the best players. However, I still believe that one of the guys will go to Canada with us. I will do my best to be one of the leaders too,” continued the native of Piešťany. He should join the team this week. “On Wednesday I will come for three days to be in contact with the guys and continue to prepare on the ice.”
MOTIVATED BY MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
It is questionable what chances the weakened 20-year-old will have at the Canadian championship. “If our best players can’t come, it will be a big loss. On the other hand, if we make a good team, I see no reason why we can’t surprise.” said the young attacker firmly.
Of course, Juraj Slafkovský and Šimon Nemec get the most attention, but Adam Sýkora also resonates in the media and among fans. His number of followers on Instagram is approaching 30,000.
“I’m glad that people perceive my positive nature. In the future, it may also have negative moments when I will not do well. But I’m ready for it. The most important thing is that I work hard and deserve my position in the NHL,” said a young man who was excited by a tour of the Rangers arena, the legendary Madison Square Garden, in New York.
“It’s a wonderful hall. We had a three-minute video about players and achievements across the club’s century-long history. I got even more motivation to play there one day,” added Adam Sýkora at the end.
FURTHER ABSENCES ARE RISING
The junior representatives met late yesterday evening at the first meeting in Poprad. The first five-day block awaits them, where forty hockey players will present themselves. They will play two matches against each other and one against the under-18 national team. Drafted hockey players have not joined yet and it is waiting to see how the situation around them will develop.
In the case of Juraj Slafkovský and Šimon Nemec, Montreal and New Jersey, respectively, are inclined not to represent in Edmonton and prefer to prepare for the fight for the NHL. Filip Mešár is in a similar situation. Adam Sýkora wants to go to the championship, as does Servác Petrovský. Adama Žlnka will not let go of the injury yet. It is questionable whether the most experienced representatives of the year 2002 will help the team. Samuel Kňažko and Martin Chromiak went through the draft in previous years and their status is questionable.
“It is true that I had health problems. Now I’m gradually starting to train again. I myself cannot say how I will be in a few weeks. I would like to go to the World Cup, but only if I am 100% fit. I communicate with the coaches every week. I leave it open,” Chromiak told us.
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