Štefan Valluš Achieves First Clean Sheet in Highest Slovak Hockey Competition

Goalkeeper Štefan Valluš achieved his first clean sheet in the highest Slovak hockey competition. “Kamzíci” in the 15th round of the Tipos extraliga confirmed their form on home ice when they triumphed in the fourth of the past five duels. They succeeded against Banská Bystrica after a 2:0 result and reached the eighth place in Michalovce.

Twenty-one-year-old Valluš neutralized 30 shots during the duel. The goalkeeper worked at the beginning of the season in the B-team (Aquacity Pikes) in the lower Tipos SHL competition. However, after the injury of Eugen Rabčan, he got a chance in the A-team. “I believe that the clean sheet is a reward for many years of work. I got a chance against Bystrica and the boys helped me a lot. It is the credit of the whole team. I hope that I will use this opportunity in the same way in the next matches. However, if the boys help me, it will alright,” said Valluš.

news-item-description">HK Poprad hockey players won in Tuesday’s 15th round of the Tipos extraliga over HC ’05 Banská Bystrica 2:0. “Chamois” goalkeeper Štefan Valluš achieved the first clean sheet in the highest Slovak competition. The home team remained in 10th place in the table, Banská Bystrica is in 4th place.

Poprad took the lead from the 16th minute, when Andrej Kukuča scored his eighth goal of the season after an individual action in a power play. The forward of the second formation is the team’s most productive player with 15 points (8+7). “I’m happy, but it can be better and we still need to add some points to the team table. I believe that the results will come,” said Kukuča, who also evaluated the duel: “It was a difficult match. Štefan really supported us in the goal and he was a big key to success. He performed excellently and we all wish him the best.”

Spectators waited until the end of the match for another accurate shot. Tyler Coulter scored 73 seconds before the end of the third period into an empty net to make it 2-0. “It was an even match. Our combativeness, cohesion and special formations were decisive. Our goalkeeper performed excellently. Although Štefan is our top three in the team’s hierarchy, he has been working excellently since July and deserved a zero. I think that from the second half we started to win the matches. We started to control the game and it was more about the result than the game we played. We are happy with three points and a clean sheet.” stated the coach of “Chamois” Aleš Totter.

The biggest reinforcement should have been the most productive player from last season, Max Gerlach, who scored 34 accurate hits for Prešov and scored a total of 59 points. However, in the new season of the Tipos extraliga, he did not live up to expectations, scoring only two goals and three assists in 11 matches. In the past three meetings, he was not included in the lineup and the team ends with: “Max is an excellent player and he’s not a bad guy at all. For him, offense comes first, but Max didn’t have such productivity with us. We decided to prioritize the team, system and responsibility, which we didn’t see in him. I think he’s going to of the Swiss league. We wish him the best of luck and I’m glad I could coach him,” said the Czech skipper of the home team.

The inhabitants of Poprad plan to replace it: “We have left Beuadoin and Gerlach, we also miss Záborský due to injury. These players should have been different. We will definitely replace them, we are looking for a center, which we are missing. Likewise for a defender. There are several names in the game and I believe that two or three of them have already they will train with us during the international break. I see it very realistically. The players from the B-team also helped us in this meeting.” Totter added.

The players of Banská Bystrica, who won the previous three matches, are in a different situation. Despite the loss, the guests remained in fourth place in the table. However, they did not score a goal for the first time in the season. “Both were missing quite a few players, but the opponent defended well. In the five-on-five game, we had, if I counted correctly, six scoring opportunities. One shot was the deciding factor. We came up empty in the power play and that was the main difference today. to score at least one goal, the match might have reached extra time. However, credit goes to the opponent, they defended excellently and I congratulate them on winning three points.” stated the Canadian coach of the guests, Doug Shedden.

Goalkeeper Filip Belányi also performed reliably, blocking 29 shots and having a success rate of 96.67 percent. “We were less assertive in front of their goal and we missed one or two goals. We have to work on it. However, that’s how matches are. I hope we learn from this and succeed next time. It’s a shame, I congratulate Valluš on the clean sheet. I didn’t get some nice goal, but nothing more can be done” stated Belányi and also commented on the form of the team: “It’s still just the beginning of the season, we don’t look too much at the table and we want to win every game.” Banská Bystrica failed in only six out of a total of 15 meetings.

Poprad are doing well at home, but they need to build on that on the opponent’s ice as well. From the previous seven duels, they won only three points when they triumphed in the first round in Nitra (4:2). “It’s great to win in front of the home fans, but we need to transfer it to the away matches as well. I believe we can handle the next two that await us.” said Kukuča. “Kamzíci” will introduce a newcomer from Humenné on the ice on Friday. Banská Bystrica will welcome Nové Zámky.

2023-11-01 06:43:04
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