11:45 yesterday
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Šimon Nemec felt good on the ice at his first training session after arriving in Riga. He struggled a bit in the training hall at the Daugava stadium in Riga with a wider rink. It was good that he fell asleep on the first night after his arrival. The nineteen-year-old defender should start in the first power formation. He is especially looking forward to Canada.
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ONLINE: Slovakia – Canada (World Hockey Championship 2023; audio commentary)
Against an overseas opponent, I can show that I have NHL skills, says defenseman ŠIMON NEMEC
You have come to a place where a great career has begun for you. It was in a “bubble” then. How are you looking forward to Riga now?
“I’m looking forward to it, because at that time we were just riding the bus and only saw a winter house and a hotel. Riga looks like a nice city. It is an older metropolis, but a nice one. We have already run it around a bit on scooters. We wrote to each other even before arriving with Sam Kňažek and Martin Chromiak. We will definitely run out for a good meal.”
How ready are you and when will you play?
“The plan is that I could start today against Canada. I am very excited. We know very well what happened in the twenties in December and the eighteen in April. Canada is not wishing us well this year, it’s high time to turn it around. They have a lot of NHL players. I can show that I belong to the profiliga. Maybe they’ll watch it from New Jersey and then give me a chance.”
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How about Canada?
“We talked to the boys that they have an unpredictable team. They also lost to the Slovenians after the first period. They have a lot of young players there who want to prove themselves.”
2022 draft pick Šimon Nemec could show his quality against possible 2023 draft pick Adam Fantilli. What do you say?
“We will see if there will be a number two. Leo Carlsson puts pressure on him, he plays the first center in the Swedish national team. It’s hard to guess. It will be a great experience for him, even if he looks like a 35-year-old guy.”
The coaches revealed that you should be in the first power play. You are probably satisfied with that, isn’t that right?
“It is an honor for me to play the first power play in the national team for the first time. I believe that I will help the guys and we will score important goals.”
Are you ready for the pressure to be even greater with several key defenders out during the build-up?
“Let’s face it, there is always a lot of pressure from Slovak fans. Slovaks and Czechs expect great things at the championships. I want to enjoy it and not feel the pressure.”
What do you think of the lineup?
“I know we’re missing a few players, but the team has a lot of fighting types, which Craig Ramsay likes.”
You are only nineteen, but you are going to your fourth major tournament in the senior national team. Do you expect your role to be bigger?
“I believe it. The coaches know what kind of player I am. If they give me a role that suits me and I feel good in it, I am convinced that I can help the team.”
Let’s go back to the end of the AHL season. Did you know right away that you would be called to coach the first team of the New Jersey Devils?
“When the season ended, the seven of us found out that we were going to go up. The next day we had a meeting where they congratulated us on being called up to the Devils. But it was just ‘as if’. We stayed in Utica for three days of training, and then we only went to New Jersey for one day. In the evening, the team lost to Carolina. The next day we had a rally and I flew to Riga.’
Are you still a little sad that you didn’t get a chance in the NHL?
“I’m sorry. When you look at what players were getting at the end of the regular season… They wanted to win the division, so they had other plans. It will probably be better in the end if I get there straight after the camp next year.”
How did the Devils management evaluate your season?
“I have feedback that they are not worried about my offense, but I need to fine-tune things defensively. I think the season was excellent. I am satisfied, they are satisfied. I believe that I will finish here successfully.”
You are going to play your first big tournament without Juraj Slafkovski. Did he write you something too?
“He wrote to me during the preparation that he misses it and would very much like to be here. We remembered the debut in the senior national team in Riga. He is disappointed that the injury stopped him.’
RAMSAY: IT’S MEANT TO MAKE PLAYERS BETTER
The arrival of Šimon Nemec was evaluated by captain Marek Hrivík. “We know Šimon, we know what kind of player he is. We are glad that he came.’ Coach Craig Ramsay added: “We are glad that he came. My only concern with Šimon Nemec is that sometimes he does too much. Otherwise, he has the equipment to be a world player. He has what it takes to make the players around him better. He needs to control his game first and foremost.”
2023-05-15 22:12:14
#Šimon #Nemec #time #succeed #Canada
