Pavol Demitra quits the career in the national team. And shows tears

And now you could see tears in his face again. "I tried to hold them, but it was too strong," said Slovakian captain, who announced – as well as Lubomir Visnovsky - that the game against Denmark was his last in his long national team career. Slovakia won, but it did not help to reach the quarterfinals.

What do you think about the championship which just ended for Slovakia?
It is hard to describe that, because it is very tough. We were unable to beat any of the strong teams. We are very sad.

The fans were fantastic. It was completely sold out even at a game you played at 12:15 pm when your team was not expected to play...
I would like to thank to the fans, because they stayed with us until the end, even when we did not play as they wanted us to play. We were in great shape in the clubs, but were unable to convert it into our performance here in Bratislava. We really wanted to beat Denmark so badly and it was because the fans. We all worked for 100 per cent.

You failed. What are the reasons? Was the pressure too big?
It is tough to tell. The deciding game was against the Germans. We played well at the very end of the game but did not score the tying goal. It hurts so much. I wanted to say good bye to the national team in a different way. Our last chance was to beat the Czechs. They played amazingly and deserved to win. Against Russia and Germany we were a bit unlucky. What a pity. If we won at least one of those games, then the next games could have been different. We waited for a win too long.

Your wife Majka convinced you to play at the Olympics and now at the World championship at home. Are you happy you played for Slovakia longer that you earlier supposed to?
I am very grateful to my wife and to my family. Mainly Olympics in Vancouver moved my career forward. If I would not have my wife, I would not have experienced it.

What was the difference between Vancouver, where you ended up 4th, and Bratislava, where you did not reach the quarterfinals?
In Vancouver, we scored important goals on the power-play. We had real problems with those situations here. We created some chances, but were unable to capitalize them.


You had a different coach, Jan Filc. Here your coach is Glen Hanlon. Did it affect the final result?
Glen Hanlon is a great guy. We all deserve the critics; we did not play the way we were supposed to. Only Ladislav Nagy can say, he played a very good tournament.

Don`t you think you played a different system than in Vancouver?
A bit yes. I think we played too much defensively here. Against the Finns or Czechs we just closed the door and waited for a goal in our net. We did not play the hockey we can play. Now there is no chance to take it back. We played physical offensive hockey against Denmark, but you cannot compare Danes with the Czechs or Russians.


Demitra against Russia
Photo: Roman Kucera

There are many offensively skilled players on a Slovakian team. Why didn`t you take an advantage of that?
It is a pity, it is very sad. However, the tournament is over and there is no time to cry over that.

What is the future of Slovakian hockey?
We will suffer a lot. We have no good talents, our U18 team even relegated to the Division I this year. Many players from my generation will quit their career and many of them will start to raise kids in their home towns because at this level, it is a total tragedy. Since last ten years, there is no great new talent in Slovakian hockey. People in Slovakia love hockey very passionately. They supported us even when we were losing. But what is needed, is to help hockey financially. It is very expensive to play hockey and that takes our talents away.

Really?
Yes. We have few good kids, but they are not at the level of Hossa or Gaborik. They were much better players in their age. These are skilled, but play only for farm teams or at junior level.

Was it really your last game for the national team? Is it your final decision?
Yes, it is. I want to be with my family and my children. Maybe I will come to watch my teammates. I do not want to leave Slovakian hockey though. I want to work and be helpful in my home town, in Trencin. The Slovakian hockey is falling down and we have to stop that.

What are your plans for your future career on club level?
I will play one more year in Yaroslavl. I miss my children very much and I do not know what will happen after the upcoming season. If I quit my career or continue.

When did you enjoy playing hockey the most? What are your career highlights?
I enjoyed that this year and at the Olympics. But I experienced many great years. In St. Louis Blues, where I played with Miso Handzus, Laco Nagy and Lubos Bartecko, or in Los Angeles with Lubomir Visnovsky or in Minnesota with Marian Gaborik. I enjoyed every year, even in Vancouver Canucks, where I did not have a good season. Then I got into a good shape at the Olympics.

Will you follow the World championship into the end?
Absolutely not. I want to have a rest. I will cheer for the Czechs now. I have many friends among them and they play very good hockey here.

 

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