Žigmund Pálffy: Dominating the Ice and Winning Hearts during the 2003 World Championship in Helsinki, Finland

Pálffy, a native of Skalice, dominated everyone in terms of productivity. At the tournament, he collected 15 points for 7 goals and 8 assists in nine games. Almost as much as his inseparable twin in attack, Jozef Stümpel (4+11).

At the championship, they started like the old Russian rolling machine. They loaded their opponents with thirteen wins in a row. Until the unsuccessful semi-final with Sweden came, in which our valiantly fighting team broke the Swedish giant Mats Sundin. Goalkeeper Lašák burst into tears of unjustified reproaches.

Nevertheless, less than 24 hours later, our group of fighters rushed into the Slovak cabin to meet the happy waiting wives in an exuberant winning mood. How did you experience it?

“Spontaneous, cheerful, relaxed. I readily adopted the philosophy of our captain Mir Šatana, that it is better to win a small final than to lose a big one. Especially when we beat traditional rivals from the Czech Republic in it. Several guys in the cabin said to each other that in this case bronze is better than gold, like in a fairy tale. We rushed to the plane to catch the celebrations on the Bratislava square. Even the bronze atmosphere in the cabin was amazing, no one could compare that a year ago in Gothenburg, after the big final with the Russians, we celebrated the gold.”

What did you emphasize before the small final with the Czech Republic, with whom we drew 3:3 during the Helsinki tournament?

“To strictly follow our game system. Then it should be fine. In particular, not to make any confusion in the middle zone or in defense, which was fatal for us in the semi-final with the Swedes.”

From which of the Swedes did you expect the greatest danger?

“We knew well what Selänne, Sundin, Zetterberg can do. When they are on the ice, everyone has to be on high alert. Otherwise, Forsberg will run over the opponent like a frozen river.”

Was there talk in the cabin before the match for 3rd place about unnecessary expulsions? Czechs often fall willingly.

“Of course, every professional is aware that every mistake can weigh. Especially when the referees whistled anxiously. We had to skate more, because the lack in this direction results in expulsions in an effort to stop the opponent late.”

Was it a motivation for you at the World Cup in Finland to break the individual record in productivity held by Canadian Eric Lindros, when he collected seventeen points at the championship in Germany in 1993?

“No, I’ve long since grown out of chasing points by force. Although it sounds like a cliché, it really didn’t matter who scored the goals and scored the points. It didn’t improve my NHL contract. We wanted to provide people at home with a similar joy as a year ago. Even if it didn’t work out, we wanted to show that we can play good hockey. Strong competition and the unpredictability of sport must also be taken into account. When the puck bounces off the post and into the net, they praise you, if it goes out, you are bad. The fans are the same everywhere in the world.”

In general, the prevailing opinion is that the competition at the WC in Helsinki 2003 was stronger than the year before at the WC in Sweden. A wider number of NHL stars gathered in Finland. How did you perceive it?

“In principle, I agree. But it’s also true that you can have weaker players who can succeed with a strong spirit and a big heart.”

Many of your photos appeared in Finnish newspapers. You smiled at practically everyone. Did you realize that?

“Weren’t they photos from training? In a match, I’m not very aware of how I look. I will definitely smile after our team’s goal.”

Before the championship in Helsinki 2003, you were among the first hockey players from the NHL to participate in the concentration of the Slovak national team in Trenčín. Didn’t you want to rest longer?

“I was looking forward to it. Smiles greeted me everywhere, it was pleasant. I didn’t even know some of the boys. That’s good. It was felt that our generation has someone stepping on its heels.”

What does Jozef Stümpel mean to you?

“Reliability in hockey and in life. Jožo and I started as juniors in Nitra, years later we met in the NHL in the Los Angeles Kings team. I took it hard when they traded him to Boston. Jožo had a great timed pass, peripheral vision, great reading of the game. He was and is selfless like his whole good soul. We knew each other blindly. Jozef is the Slovakian hockey David Beckham. After the hard work in the NHL, I was looking forward to playing joyful hockey with him, which was true of the entire Slovak team. Moreover, we also understand each other off the ice, we don’t need many words for that.”

Which player caught your eye the most in Helsinki?

“Everyone in a Slovak jersey. We really had fighters in the attack, whose names speak for themselves. Even Jano Lašák in goal was a personality. There were many excellent hockey players in each of the other teams. That is also why I warned the fans before leaving that they cannot automatically expect a defense from us. On the other hand, the opponent always starts with the same goal and starts from 0:0.”

Do you tend to remember the gold from Gothenburg 2002?

“Every now and then I watch video footage of matches and every time I get chills. It was amazing. Hockey then united all Slovaks. Half of the auditorium of the Scandinavium hall in the final match against Russia was ours, and on the second day we were greeted by a crowd of fifty thousand in Bratislava. Such moments are worth living for, and one always likes to return to the national team.”

After the season, you were declared the best striker in the country of the world champions. Did you expect this?

“Not at all. I didn’t give myself any chance, I thought to myself – even two votes would be good. I got six of them in Nitra at the time, one more than Peter Bondra. I myself favored Mir Šatan, he had an excellent season in the NHL and brilliantly fulfilled the role of captain and driving force of the team at the World Cup. After that, I already suspected that the award for the best player would go to Bondra – he scored the winning goal in the final and he doesn’t forget that. After a year, we were again at the top of the world, Slovak hockey had a strong credit.”

The dream of every hockey player in the NHL is to lift the Stanley Cup above his head. How was it with you?

“I was not an exception. The excellent Czech goalkeeper Dominik Hašek therefore transferred from Buffalo to Detroit, where he was more likely to win a trophy at the end of his career. I didn’t feel the need to win the Stanley Cup right now. I enjoyed hockey, I liked playing it for the audience. Our Kings team took an example from teams like Carolina at the time, which, although not among the favorites, made it to the finals. I mean, if the team shows a lot of will, a miracle can be done.”

At the beginning of your career, you moved from New York to the other side of America to Los Angeles. Looking back, how do you remember your time with the Islanders?

“I spent six good years on Long Island, I started my NHL career there. That’s what I felt every time I skated on the ice at the Nassau Coliseum. I have friends in New York, but I met them when the series took us to the East Coast. California had a warmer climate, even in December it was possible to go to training in shorts, no stress from the snow disaster. However, we travel more from Los Angeles to the opponents, which was already less pleasant.”