Tampere (from our newsletter) – “The raven is a super shooter, he has it in his genes and Hertlík plays fantastically forwards and backwards, he is able to do anything on the ice. “Maybe we could work together like this,” Smejkal thinks. and push to shield the opponent ‘s goalkeepers, “says the 25 – year – old striker who played the last two league seasons in the host country of this year’ s World Cup.
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Praise for the interplay of the whole attack also comes from the center of Tomáš Hertl. “The crook is an amazing gunner, so I’ll try to hold on to the puck and look for him. Smejky can do this too, he can be strong on the wheel. We could work well together, “explains the San Jose striker.
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Jiří Smejkal is fighting for the puck with the Swedish captain Joakim Nordström.Photo: Henrik Montgomery, CTK / AP
Smejkal tested the national team with the NHL fighters at the end of last week at the Swedish Hockey Games against the Finns. “We did quite well with the match, we had a lot of good things there, so the coaches left us together and I hope we will last like this,” reveals Smejkal, who broke his three-month waiting for the goal for the national team during the general race before the World Cup. in Finland the goals have been falling, so maybe I’ll add some more hits here, “he hopes.
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He has only played twice as a rival at the new Nokia Arena in Tampere when he came here this year with Lahti. “I know that when they built the hall, they promised to make the rinks some kind of overseas technology. But the ice was crazy enough every time. The puck jumped a lot on the bumps, you have to watch it more on the stick, which is bad, but the one who tries it better will succeed. Anyone who is used to having his head up and doesn’t look at the club too much will suddenly find that he doesn’t have it on his stick, “says Smejkal, who knew the oldest hockey hall in the country of Hakametsä from his previous work in the local Tapa jersey.
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Already in 1965, Finland hosted the World Cup for the first time. “She was a little dilapidated in the locker room, but she had her charm. I’ve always played well there. Now, however, Tampere boasts one of the most modern arenas in Europe. For example, I have never seen such a huge cube over the ice, it will catch your eye at first sight. The galleries look pretty dark, but when the spectators are full, they immediately light up here, “says Smejkal.
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Knowing the interior of the Nokia Arena, he was a little apprehensive about how the eight teams playing the group would line up. “The Austrians, Latvians and British have such building cells instead of the classic cabin, and we were quite afraid if we wouldn’t have one either, but we still did well. The Swedes are right next to us and we actually share a very spacious locker room, which belongs to the guests during league matches, “he explains.
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