Michal Kempný (in the foreground on the left) | Photo: Vít Golda
The national team lost to Switzerland 2:3 in the last match before the World Cup. However, Michal Kempný opened the scoring in the first minute of the match, according to whom the team lacked the necessary energy. In addition, Kempný was supposed to start in the second defensive pair alongside nineteen-year-old David Jiříček, but he did not finish due to injury and ended up losing his nomination for the WC…
“I think we lacked energy a little bit, our legs weren’t moving as much as we needed to. Of course, we tried to wring out the match as best as we could, but the Swiss played excellently. They had excellent movement and made it quite uncomfortable for us,” said Kempný immediately after the match.
“But I think we still found some strength in the third period to do something about it,” he added before the final nominations for the world championship were announced.
Could line-up changes also have played a role?
Hard to say. We certainly don’t want to make excuses for anything, because the conditions were the same for everyone. Unfortunately, it turned out this way. I think we got the short end of the stick.
You didn’t even get a power play in the match. What do you think it is?
We work on it every day, we try to do what we can. We are looking for the optimal composition to be successful. We are doing our best for that, it’s certainly not that we don’t want to score goals in power plays.
“We are looking for the optimal composition to be successful.”
Wasn’t the team nervous about the last chance to show off?
I do not think. Of course I can’t speak for others, someone might have been nervous in the last game, but I think we’re experienced enough and we’ve played enough to do what we need to do with the game. I don’t think nervousness played a part.
How do you feel about the fact that in the end it was not possible to win at the Czech Hockey Games?
I regret the third goal we scored against the Swiss. He didn’t have to be. It was a shame, we scored a quick goal right from the first substitution in the third period and it was 2:2. It could look a little different. Even the fans would definitely deserve a win at the end of the tournament.
Karel Vejmelka after the match with Switzerland
Do you feel good about the team?
I have a great feeling about him. The crew in the cabin is excellent, we have the same good characters. I really enjoy the time spent with these guys and I believe that we will continue to build the team in such a way that we will be successful. Team chemistry makes a big percentage because we have to stick together and pull together, support each other and work hard for each other. I can put my hand in the fire for these guys. I know this bunch is great.
You will probably be betting on defensive play in the championship…
I think that this is the way we present ourselves since Kari Jalonen has been with the team. Everyone knows what to do and what their job is. He tries to do his best. We will try to play what we have and what brought us success last year. I don’t think we should change anything.
“Everyone knows what to do and what their job is.”
David Jiříček is suffering from injuries, don’t you feel a little sorry for him in this situation?
It’s probably not an easy situation for him. We were supposed to play together, we played a few substitutions together… Jíra is a great boy, he has everything in front of him, but unfortunately everything is sticking to him now. But I think he’s such a great player that he can handle it and handle it. Of course, I also wanted to make the whole thing easier for him in some way, we wanted to enjoy the match. It’s a shame that it didn’t work out and he had to withdraw from the game.
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2023-05-07 19:51:00
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