Maxim Čajkovič celebrates a goal Source: Flickr/Iowa Wild/Tim Garland
NEW YORK – Slovakian hockey player Maxim Čajkovič was successful in this season’s premiere in the AHL. In the very first game after moving from the lower ECHL overseas competition, he scored and his goal helped the Iowa Wild to a 3-1 victory over the Manitoba Moose.
On Saturday night, Iowa was losing 0:1 after the first period, and it was Cajkovic who directed the home team to turn around with a goal in the second half. The 22-year-old attacker sent three shots on goal, took away a plus point from the match and was declared the third star of the match.
first iawild game, first iawild goal 😌
🚨: Maxim Cajkovic
🍎: Sammy Walker#ItStartsInDSM | #MBvsIA pic.twitter.com/BU2AIXov2I— Iowa Wild (@IAWild) December 23, 2023
The 22-year-old winger was called by the Wild management from the ECHL just a few hours before the game, where he started the year in the Iowa Heartlanders jersey. “It was a quick change, but I’m excited about it and very happy to be here. I even slept in my own bed since I didn’t have to travel far.” Čajkovič said in a video on the club’s Facebook page.
He could score already in the first period: “I felt that I could do it today, I had good games in the ECHL and I brought my form here. From the first substitution, I focused on helping the team and in the second period I did it.”
After scoring the goal, the Slovak striker was very happy: “I jumped onto the ice and completed the guys’ offensive action. The puck came to me, so I sent it to the goal as quickly as possible. I’m very happy that it went there, that my teammates and the fans in the stands were also happy with the goal. It’s nice emotions.”
🔊 Hear from Maxim Cajkovic on his first goal in an Iowa Wild sweater in tonight’s 3-1 win against Manitoba.#ItStartsInDSM | #MBvsIA pic.twitter.com/N0l13RCWRT
— Iowa Wild (@IAWild) December 23, 2023
Cajkovic has 15 points (10+5) in 16 ECHL games this season for the Iowa Heartlanders. Already in the years 2021 – 2023, he played 23 duels in the AHL in the Syracuse Crunch jersey, scoring a total of six points (3+3).
- Author: © List/
- Source: TASR
2023-12-23 08:03:10
#VIDEO #couldnt #wished #premiere #Čajkovič #scored #immediately #moving #league
