yesterday 15:58
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Michal Ivan is an interesting name in preparation for the world championship. The inconspicuous twenty-three-year-old defender is not one of the most popular names, but under Craig Ramsay he has become one of the mainstays of the team. He has already experienced two world championships in his career.
MICHAL IVAN has already completed two world championships, he would like to travel to the third
Michal Ivan was originally supposed to be in the unofficial part of the training, but he joined the national team only after Easter. “I had some pains after the season and we had several official events in Liberec after the end of the season. We agreed with the national team coaches that they will give me one more week to do well,” the native of Žiar nad Hronom, who was slowed down by an injury at the beginning of the season, was interviewed.
“I paused longer, and then I got into it. It wasn’t the season I wanted to have. I hope that things will be better in the national team.”
HE BELIEVES IN HIMSELF MORE THAN VLANI
A good skater believes in himself more than last year. “Certainly participating in the championship a year ago helped me. I have experience and I know what it is to play in the World Cup. I believe that if I get to them, I will help the team,” you wished He made his debut at the World Championship in 2021 in Riga, where he played two matches. He traveled to the tournament quickly after the title celebrations with Zvolen.
The fact that Craig Ramsay trusts Michal Ivan is best evidenced by the minutes played. Last year, until the arrival of Martin Fehérváry, he was the busiest player of the national team at the World Cup in Finland. “I was happy for the role the coach gave me. I tried to do my best. But now it means nothing. This year it looks like a very high quality team. The fight for places will be big, I realize that.”
The still young back returned to the games in Helsinki, where it was not expected that he could get such a huge space. “I didn’t expect it, I went on the ice every other shift. Assistant Andrej Podkonický also followed me to see if I could handle it, since I played for more than twenty minutes. I had no problem with that. I gradually tried shorter shifts in order to give 100% performance during the twenty, thirty seconds spent on the ice.”
Michael Ivan
Source: TASR
THEY NO LONGER HAD “JUCICE” IN THE PLAY-OFFS
In pressure hockey in Craig Ramsay’s system, it is difficult for any defenseman to play higher portions of minutes. This is also why the Canadian prefers alternating four pairs. “Craig wants us to skate a lot. That’s why you can’t extend your shifts, because you might lack strength at a crucial moment,” explained the defender.
Ivan played 43 matches for Liberec, in which he scored nine points. In the north of Bohemia, they were disappointed with the team’s performance. “The year was so up and down, towards the end we had good results. In the playoffs, we left a lot of energy in the preliminary round with Pilsen. We no longer had ‘juice’ with Hradec Králové. They decided small details in which the opponent was better,” continued the defender, who should continue to play in the club.
Filip Pešán, the former coach of the Czech national team and mastermind of the title, returns to familiar surroundings. “We talked after the season about my continuation at the club and it is on the right track. Personally, I have not yet experienced coach Filip Pešán. It will be a change. We’ll see what it brings.”
