Nela is stubborn, determined, but she is no rebel, says father Jozef Lopušan

She was good at almost every sport she tried

„Nela is a modest, self-confident girl. She was good at almost every sport she tried,” the proud father was interviewed, whose daughter’s amazing performances at the under-18 world championship were not that surprising. “We knew she was very good, but we didn’t expect her to shoot like this. We hoped that experts would notice her. It worked out perfectly for her. She showed her best game.”

Even at the first look at the game of the fourteen-year-old super talent, you can see how much she cares not only whether she scores a goal, but also that it is beautiful. “She was born with hands like that. I think that it is impossible to train like this. He regularly watches NHL videos. He has the hands and the head for it, so he tries it. From an early age, he runs around the house and in the yard with a soccer ball or hockey stick. She came from training, studied a little, and then went to shoot at the goal again, or kick the ball,” continued Lopusan.

It is unique that his daughter managed to stand on skates at the age of two. “She didn’t even notice that her brother was playing hockey. We gave her a hockey stick, she immediately played with it. She didn’t deal with other toys at all. We didn’t even buy her dolls. She wouldn’t enjoy it. She preferred hockey sticks, balls, skates, protectors, mini goals. Then bigger goals or sports jerseys. Naturally, she was good at not only skating, but also kicking the ball. She had such a boyish attitude. Gradually, as she grew older, she looked up to her brother, who was six years older,” said the former amateur football player.

SHE HAS NOT CHANGED YET

Father is not worried about Nela, who plays in boys’ competitions. Rather, she is worried about how she will handle the huge attention around her, which she earned with her fantastic performances, goals and prizes at the recent Under-18 World Cup in Sweden.

“It’s nothing new for her, she already experienced something similar a year ago, even if it’s diametrically bigger. I hope he can do it, because social networks cannot be avoided these days. It’s about mutual trust. On the other hand, he doesn’t even have time to deal with it. After all, he now has tournament after tournament. I don’t feel like she’s changed yet,” thought Jozef Lopušan.

In the future, the best Slovak hockey player and probably one of the best players in the world, she is a good daughter, even if she can be stubborn. “She is purposeful, self-confident and also sometimes stubborn. However, she is not a rebel. We have a good relationship, the same with my mother. On the other hand, we are also critical of her when we analyze the matches. I try to advise and support her, if she is not doing well, praise her. Outside of hockey, of course, he turns more to his mother, but that’s natural,” father smiled.

THE ONLY WAY IS AMERICA

In men’s hockey, the goal is clear for the greatest talents. Every boy wants to make it to the NHL. It’s difficult in women’s. Girls don’t have many chances to earn money playing hockey. That is why they rather focus on studying abroad, which is also the dream of the Lopušan family.

“We would be happy if she gradually got to university in America and graduated well. Through hockey, she gained in particular the fact that she can go to school overseas and improve her living conditions afterwards. Let’s be honest, if she stayed in Slovakia, it would be a wasted talent,” said honestly the parent of the female Connor Bedard, as some overseas fans aptly called the fourteen-year-old girl from Žilina.

Despite the demanding schedule, when Nela plays in the boys’ competition and the women’s extra league, she already presented herself at the senior hockey world championships last year. Now, after the under-18 championship, he will immediately go to the European Youth Olympic Festival in Italy, and maybe in April he will also experience the senior world championships of the A-group of the 1st division in China. However, he also studies diligently and does not forget about school.

“He has good school results. He will have one’s, two’s, maybe one three’s in the semester. He has to add a little in English. He can’t do much with school,” stated the father, who finally sighed that he and his wife Slávka are also preparing for more difficult years.

“A week ago, we had the first indications that she could go to America for another year. It weighed on us a bit, because we basically see her two or three times a year. After happiness came sadness, but we’re already thinking about the fact that, unfortunately, that’s how it is. If she wants to be happy and desires her goals, there is no other way,” added Jozef Lopušan.