Jiri Tlusty: I will fight for chance to play at Worlds

„I’m glad I was able to be here and play for the national team during the lockout. It was a good experience and we had a nice time here, since we created a great team. We played well, one for another and that’s very important. Ondrej Pavelec held us brilliantly in the last two games. We have to praise him just like Alexander Salak after the match with Sweden. The goalkeepers were simply amazing and since we played as a team, it brought us the victory,“ explained Tlusty what stood behind the Czech success.

Tlusty had changed his teammates in the formation during the tournament. „In the first match, I played in the formation with Tomas Plekanec, who I am used to play with, so it was maybe a bit easier. With Lukas Pech, there was only one problem. We didn’t play well in the defense because none of us plays normally a defensive forward, but at the end we didn’t concede any goals,“ said the Czech forward.

For a short time, Tlusty was chosen as the second goal scorer of the Czech team. „I didn’t score the second goal, it was one of the Russians. It was given to me at first, but they corrected it later. I told the referee, that I think I didn’t deflect the shot,“ admited Tlusty.

During the NHL lockout, Jiri Tlusty returned to his home club in Kladno.„It is another valuable experience for me now, when I’m playing in Kladno. I grew up there and I have a family and friends there. It is always pleasant to play home and I’m having a great time. I also have an opportunity to play with the best European player, Jaromír Jágr,“ told the 24-year-old player, who has been connected with Atlant Mytishchi last days. „I saw it also in the medias, that I got an offer from Atlant. I must decide myself, if I should risk it there. I don’t want to move there for just two weeks, becuase it would be useless to getting used to play with some new teammates. It won’t be an easy decision to make,“ said the member of Carolina Hurricanes.

„I will fight for the chance to play in the World Championship, if I can. It is a dream for everyone and I want it to come true. I will do my best, because it’s one of the reasons, why I even play ice-hockey,“ said Jiri Tlusty.

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