15.7.2022 07:50
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He did not watch the NHL draft of his young teammates live. Even while on vacation in Croatia, Nitrian defender Branislav Mezeia received the news about the 2nd place for the defender Šimon Nemec and the 63rd position for the forward Adam Sýkora.
In the mind of the captain of the silver team of last year’s extra-league season, memories of the moments he experienced firsthand in 1999 as the 10th-ranked pick of the New York Islanders came to mind while watching the draft of his team’s youngsters.
Nitra captain BRANISLAV MEZEI is happy with the high draft selection of his young teammates
„Having a Slovak number one and two in the draft at a time when Slovak hockey is not perceived as much as it used to be is a big deal. I believe that our hockey will once again become known overseas. I was surprised that Šimon was drafted so high by the New Jersey Devils. After all, he was not in the top 3 in the rankings before.
However, the needs of individual clubs also played a role, they do not always choose the player who is the highest. If someone needs a right-handed defender for a power play, he will choose him rather than a striker. This also played a role in Šimon’s case,” started the interview for our daily Branislav Mezei.
Together with another well-built defenseman from Nitra, Boris Valábik, he was the highest drafted Slovak defenseman in the NHL for many years. However, his young teammate from the defensive pair surpassed him by eight rungs. Branislav Mezei remembered what it was like when he himself was at the profiliga draft in Boston in 1999.
“It is difficult to compare our times and the present. There was no proper internet, you couldn’t look at anything and prepare yourself for what you were going to do. Now the boys are prepared from all sides for what awaits them. We only had information from the agent and we were thrown into the water. At that time I did not expect to be selected as tenth, according to the rankings I was around 15-20th place. It was a minor shock for me at the time. I remember how I also tripped on the stairs on the way to the stage. Anyway, memories last a lifetime.”
MONTH TO MONTH IMPROVEMENTS
The Nitra native, who has been in charge of the cabin for six seasons, also remembered the moments when he saw the highest drafted defender from Slovakia for the first time in a Nitra jersey. “At fifteen, Šimon was still a boy, albeit a clever one. In the following years, however, he showed great progress and proved that he can become a great hockey player one day. The last year has been improving practically from month to month.
It was clearly thanks to the chance to play in the men’s top competition, but he also got a lot of opportunities in the youth and even in the senior national team. He transferred all his experience to the game in the extra league, in addition, he had it cleaned up in his head. He was not at all rash for his age. Although he was quiet, he always lost his stage fright on the ice. Sometimes he might have invented things that he didn’t have to, but he showed that he had the confidence to do it.”
Branislav Mezei from HK Nitra in a new jersey from a special set
Source: SITA
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According to Mezeia, the fact that the German will not be alone in New Jersey is very important. In forward Tomáš Tatar, he has a great personality and a native of Slovakia.
“It’s great that he will have someone close to him in his new environment. When I was coming to the Islanders, Zdeno Chara was there and I know what that meant to me then. Although he was still young, he took me to live in his home, he and his wife took care of me. It’s a different time now, the teams care more about the guys, but having someone with you who you can consult about how things are going, who has what habits and what to expect from whom is priceless. Tomáš will definitely help him.”
HE HAS NEVER SEEN SUCH A YOUNG HONEST
During the interview about the draft, we could not forget another star from Nitra, 17-year-old Adam Sýkora. His progress in the last year was probably the biggest among all Slovak players.
“Adam earned it with his hard work. I have the feeling that he thinks about hockey from morning to night and is pursuing his goal. I don’t even remember when I met such an honest young guy. At the same time, he is always smiling and cheerful, and he will do everything you ask him to do on the ice. It’s unheard of at his age that someone is so sensible and humble and hardworking at the same time.” says Branislav Mezei, who thinks that Sýkora still hasn’t fully shown his potential.
„He didn’t have that many chances to play power plays and show what he knows. However, he always got a chance in a higher attack if he played well and never wasted it. He always went to the maximum, whether he played five or fifteen minutes in a match. It was also visible at the World Championship, where, when he got a chance, he went all out again and didn’t miss a second.”
Adam Sýkora will probably not break into the NHL this year. Mezei sees that he still has a chance to improve in the men’s team outside overseas, for example in Nitra.
“If he came back to us, he would definitely get more space on the ice and could gain the necessary experience. A junior for a player who has already played men’s hockey is probably not the right move. He would have a better chance to grow in Nitra or another senior team in Europe. The New York Rangers will definitely advise him on what is good for him and make his plans clear to him,” added the 41-year-old hockey matador, who is preparing for another season in the Nitra jersey.
SOMETIMES IT WAS NECESSARY TO “TIGHTEN THE COLLAR”
For the native of Liptovský Mikuláš, his experienced defensive teammate didn’t have to raise his voice much, even if sometimes he had to explain some things. “Šimon had to ‘pull the collar’ a few times. When you are sixteen and you are talked about a lot and you are in the national team, it happens that you fly away. The coach and I had to tame Šimon so that he didn’t try to be in every attack and chase points, because by doing so he created overcounts. He took it to heart in this year’s playoffs, becoming the most productive defenseman in history by the end of it. He played smart and averaged more points than in the regular season,” revealed Branislav Mezei.
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