He has to regret one celebration due to a scandal in the club from the past, but he will not lose the other. Marián Hossa (42) will receive a great honor in mid-November when he is named one of the best hockey players in the world – to the NHL Hall of Fame.
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Photo: TASR, RADOVAN STOKLASA
Marián Hossa during a press conference in Trenčín.
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He finds himself in the company of his childhood idols and three legends with Slovak roots – Stan Mikit, Petr Šťastný and journalist Georg Gross.
“There are personalities who have been waiting to enter the Hall of Fame for years and they are not there yet. I succeeded as soon as possible.
I feel great honor and gratitude, “says the three-time profile champion, who ended his overseas career prematurely due to health problems.
VIDEO: Chicago has postponed Hoss’s ceremony, traveling directly to Toronto.
Are you sorry for the postponement of the Chicago ceremony at which the Blackhawks were to honor your career at the club?
Yes, but I believe it will happen later. We agreed with the management that there is no room now to celebrate anything. The pandemic made me have to wait to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I’ll wait for the red carpet in Chicago.
Read more No time to celebrate. Chicago postponed Hoss’s ceremony due to harassment
Has this changed your overseas program?
We are not flying to Chicago, but directly to Toronto, where the ceremonial entrance to the Hall of Fame will take place. I was there as a 13-year-old boy, now I’m coming back. True, under other circumstances.
Have you ever thought that you will one day appear in it as a profiled legend?
Nothing like this. I took a picture of Stanley Cup then, I had respect for him. I wanted to play well for Dukla Trenčín, fight my way to the national team and maybe even to the NHL. I never dreamed of three champion titles.
Photo: SITA / AP, Elise Amendola
Stanley Cup Blackhawks Bruins Hockey Marián Hossa won three Stanley Cups (2010, 2013 and 2015).
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The celebration will also include a duel of legends, in which you will also perform with your brother Marcel. Can your body handle the match load?
When the organizers informed me about the idea to play a meeting with other former players, I told them that I last wore the equipment four years ago. They responded that everyone says that…
We finally agreed and that’s why we’re going to train now. Nothing serious, just skating with passes at a gentle pace. I’m looking forward to having a nice memory with my brother of working together, in addition, the farewell will take place on a special occasion.
Read more The NHL is preparing a match of legends. There are also Slovak brothers
A thank-you speech is read at the induction into the Hall of Fame. Have you already written it?
I’m working on it. I wrote the style for the last time in elementary school, so it’s a little harder for me (smile). I have made a list of people I want to mention in my speech. The speech is to last five to seven minutes, mine came to me at sixteen during the rehearsal. I have a shortening waiting for me.
Manifestations are accompanied by emotional moments and sometimes even the toughest guys cry. Are you ready for it?
My wife tells me I’m like a rock, she never saw me cry. It can come from my side. Although small, but the chance is there. Feelings are tense with thank-you speech. I’ll be surprised how I do.
Do you still watch the NHL after the end of your career? How has it changed over the years?
The game is much faster and more dynamic. Battles have disappeared, players are more focused on hockey. The players are also changing, the characters are more reminiscent of football players. They no longer have to be tall and strong.
When I came to Ottawa’s cabin as an 18-year-old boy and saw huge guys lifting weights, I asked myself what I was doing here – a poor teenager from Trenčín.
Players now have other habits, watching closely what they eat, drink, vitamins or supplements. In my time, pizza and beer were waiting for us on the bus after the match. The contemporaries would probably not even touch that now.
Hoss’s position on sexual assault
It’s hard to imagine what Kyle Beach had to go through. I keep my fingers crossed for him to find the strength and life that will be affected as little as possible by the negative events that I personally condemn. I was not aware of these events, I also stated this in my statement to the investigator.
You know my story, I played the third final in a row at the time and I focused exclusively on hockey. However, I think it is right that those who knew about it have taken personal responsibility in recent days. Out of respect for Kyle, I will not comment further on the case.
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