BRATISLAVA. Kladno hockey players will fight for the third year in a row to stay in the top competition. Only eleven wins in 52 games could not be enough for better than the last 14th place in the extra league table.
Their ranking is all the more surprising given that they had the most productive defender in the entire league. Only 21-year-old Jiří Ticháček played an average of over 22 minutes per game and collected 43 points for thirteen goals and 30 assists.
In the team, he overshadowed the 2010 world champion Jakub Klepiš and other teammates with experience from the NHL or other leading competitions.
Thanks to his performances, he earned a representative invitation and wore the most valuable jersey five times as part of the Euro Hockey Tour events. He also scored one assist in the Czech Republic’s 3:2 win over Switzerland in December.
After the end of the regular season, Jaromír Jágr, the owner of the hockey club Kladno, called him to his office, who could not help but notice the performances of the young defender.
“Remember two days ago when I asked you what you were going to do? We were thinking about what kind of gift to give you for the great season you had.
We call it a Pittsburgh tour, but it’s not a tour. You will be there for a week and I want you to watch the training sessions and also the match,” Jagr said.
The young defender did not expect such a gift. He was taken aback.
He later admitted that he will experience the atmosphere of an NHL game for the first time. Moreover, in addition to Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel or Evgeni Malkin, he will also see Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl, as the Penguins will welcome the Edmonton Oilers.
“I’m going there with you so you don’t get lost,” Jágr said.
In addition, he told Ticháček that he would meet several legendary hockey players such as Mario Lemieux, Bryan Trottier and Paul Coffey.
“Dude, it will be… I hope I won’t forget to speak English. I know a little, but…” the promising Kladno defender struggled to find the words.
Although Ticháček was not drafted by any NHL club, Jágr believes that he has the skills for this competition.
“The national team should, of course, be your goal, and the main thing is to see where your journey ends. You have one hundred percent what it takes to go to the NHL,” he said.
“It’s unreal, I’m really looking forward to it,” said the defender, who in 2023 won silver with the Czech under-20 team at the Junior World Championships.
“And from now on we’re talking,” said the legendary forward.
Ticháček was again a bit taken aback, but then replied “bye, Džeger,” which made the most productive European in the NHL, whose jersey was recently hung under the roof of the stadium in Pittsburgh, laugh.
2024-03-04 21:00:29
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