More arenas, more money, more visibility

Meelis Laido was elected as new Secretary General of the Estonian Hockey Federation last August after seven years of Riho Soonik's reign.
A businessman with interest in mobile telephony and shipping - he was the first employee and now the owner of the Silja Line company - Laido, 47, is more famous in Estonia as musician as part of Laur Teär & Meelis Laido duo and kart rider (he won several domesitc titles and the English title in 2005). Relatively less known in hockey circles, Mr. Laido defeated the other candidates: "We had seven candidates, but Meelis Laido prevailed on others due his great experience and great interpersonal skills, he his a business leader" said Federation's President Jaan Mölder.
Trasferring his habits in the new duty, Mr. Laido decided not to waste time and to actively use it to explore the situation in the Estonian hockey. When he visited the Ida-Viru County,  the Viru Sputnik website had the chance to interview him.

How do you enter in Estonian hockey world?
"Really by pure chance. I remember the days of the Soviet Union's hockey. In those days - with Kharlamov, Tretiak, Mikhailov and others - I was the real hockey fan. But time goes. In addition to interest in music, I was in charge in important firms. But I did not leave the sport but my passion becomes karting. In 2009 I became Estonian champion in class 35 + and also partecipated in the European and World Championships. When I finished the active sports career, I applied for the charge of Secretary General of the Union of motorsport. Now I got a call from Jaan Melder - Estonian Hockey Federation President - inviting me to participate in the election. And I won (laugh)"

Do you play hockey?
"Just for fun. There is a team of musicians in Tallinn. They called me, and sometimes I go. Now as General Secretary, I should know more about hockey, to have a more professional idea"

For you, in terms of the General Secretary, hockey is a sport or business?
I think that the responsibility of this position is to raise funds for the sport and its the development. I see also that it will be important to receive help from the Goverment, which should help with the construction of ice arenas. I researched the statistics and see how many arenas were built in the neighboring states. We currently only five arenas. My opinion: we need a minimum of twelve. It is necessary to build a site in Haapsalu, Viljandi, Kuressaare. In Tartu, there should be two. I know that in Rakvere the owners of casino "Pyhyakeskusa" plan to build an icerink. Secondly: the coverage of the sport in the media. We have just basketball, handball, football, volleyball. Hockey appears only rarely.

Maybe it's the prejudice that hockey is Russian sport?
I know that this feeling exists. If you look at how many are addicted to hockey in Sweden, Finland, we will see a lot of players. Also in Latvia is very popular. Here, unfortunately, exists in some Estonian the preconception that hockey is the Russian sport. I do not understand what the purpose of this belief, why it is generally used

Which is the main challenges in our hockey today?
The lack of ice rinks, and, of course, the question of money. But if we want to raise healthy children, far from the street and computers, it is clear that we need to move forward, to promote hockey

Which are youe feelings about the new season?
The situation is that we do not know at the moment whether to play a team of Tartu. Here is the problem. When I was in motorsports, we are keenly aware that a week before the event you have to register. If you do it on the spot, make a much higher fee for participation. Here I do not understand how, if you're given a specific period of registration to participate in the championship of Estonia at the end of registration, we have only one (!) team. It is not clear. And you have to call and ask the teams: you play or not? Why have the whole registration process if no one respects it? After all, there are simple rules which all states. Today we have 4 teams registered. In the evening they could be five. Or not!"

After this interview the current Estonian champion Kalev-Välk Tartu announced the team won't take part to Skoda Liga for lack of funds but the Federation, despite two forfeited games, decided not to follow the League Rules and to keep Kalev in the fixtures and give more time to arrange money to take part in the League. Last Saturday finally Kalev was on ice to face (and win 8-6 ) Viru Sputnik in Kohtla-Jarve
Federation's President Jaan Mölder said that in making the decision took into account the opinion of the fans, who wanted to save the team, and also took into account the interests of the Estonian national team, because several players from Kalev play for it: "In the case of exclusion of the club, they'd be out of practice" said Mölder. The Federation giveTartu Kalev-Välk until 2 November to announce a new fixture for the game with Panter/Purikad not played last October 20. "Of course, this situation should not happen again, but our problem is not to punish anyone, but to help to find a solution" noted Mölder.

 

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