MS in hockey 2025: Pavol Regenda dreams of NHL. I’m different, saying (story)
The story that came from everywhere is a myth. Pavol Regenda He wore the jersey of the Slovak national team at the World Championships under 18 and 20 years.
Unlike many peers, however, was not an exceptional talent, but an honest worker, which did not refuse a black robot. Nevertheless, when he dedicated himself with rivals on the Olympic ice in Beijing, he worked for fans as appearance. « Regenda is a legend, » they responded with the verse.
Hockey player from the village of Hažín in the east of Slovakia attracted first extraleague Michalovce, then Craig Ramsay and finally the NHL team Anaheim Ducks. It also became a strong part of the representation.
With the arrival of the World Cup, not only the implementation team, but also journalists will always be pleased. « The first years I tried to be decent in the interviews, but I am increasingly in front of the media myself, » he explains in the debate for Sportnet and Diary N, shortly after training before the match against Canada for Canada World Cup 2025.
A few years ago you did not know if they would take you to Michalovce at all, and whether you would make a living by hockey. Now you start at the fourth World Cup. How do you look at your hockey story?
If someone told me a few years ago, I wouldn’t expect it. I am glad for every experience, even for holding my place in this team. I became one of the more experienced.
Years, unfortunately, are running. Only now I was eighteen and I am twenty -five. I am slowly getting into a group of players, so I have to pull it and guide the guys a little. The responsibility is also associated with this. It is expected to play well and I try it.
If you could compare Paul Regend in 2022 and in 2025, in what you changed
I have more experience and I make better decisions on ice, but I still play the same hockey. I try to play fighting, I work for the team, I play a lot in front of the goal. I think I also hockey.
In which game activities did you move the most in the time?
When I came to America for the first year, my game was primarily about militancy, but now I will allow some moves in the power play and find teammates in shooting positions.
In the first season overseas you played fourteen matches in the NHL, in the second five and not one. What do you miss to get caught and play more in the profile?
My disadvantage is that I am heavy, I have more weight. I’m skating fine, but starts could improve. In addition, you do not have room for errors in the NHL. If I played constant excellently, I would definitely get there, but I am performing fluctuating performance. I’m trying to work on it. I have a psychologist, a mental coach. I have improved it in the last season, we’ll see what’s going to be.
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Recently, there has been speculation that you could return to Europe after three years overseas. How do you see your future?
I’m sure I’m waiting for a contract from America and I decide accordingly, but staying overseas is a priority for me. I still want to feed on the NHL dream, because if I left there now, I probably won’t return there.
In the past, Tomáš Kopecký played six seasons in the AHL, while he settled in the NHL, several other Slovak players did not last so long and left America earlier. How much willing to fight for the NHL you?
It is certainly not easy, especially in a competition as AHL. It is a demanding league, whether for traveling or a large portion of matches. Every boy who plays there is fighting for a place in the first team. Of course you have it in your head and you would definitely be up.
In the first season I thought a lot, the second year too and I was mentally on it, but this year I thought I was going to enjoy hockey. I think I started to do after the change of the team. So, if it will take, a year, two or three, I want to try it while I have the opportunity.
Video: Pavol Regenda after the match Slovakia – France at the World Championship in Hockey 2025
From San Diego you moved to San Jose, which is still a pleasant address for a hockey player. Does it also play a role in your decision -making?
The weather is the same, too, as I stayed in California. However, I was particularly beneficial for the change of the environment, coaches, teammates. The coaches appreciated me, they were glad I came because they didn’t have such a type of player. I felt that I was appreciated by the team.
The background or trainings were adapted to make players improve there and I think that I also moved there, both from physical side, even when it comes to hockey skills. Every day I came to the stadium with pleasure.
Have changed your view of life for three years in North America?
It’s different and I like it there. I like Europe, but there is a different life in America. Some people wonder how it is possible that I am not in the first team when San Jose is the last in the NHL. But it’s not as simple as it seems.
Every year, five or six draft players will be added to the organization, all the guys who are fighting for a chance to go up every day. Many people think that when you have a higher chance of getting into the first team in the weakest club, but there is even stronger competition, because such a club is favored in the draft.
I certainly take hockey with greater respect and especially I am glad to be here.
In the photos from the airport after arriving in Sweden, we noticed that you have small earrings. Are you moving image?
Many guys condemn it, but I’m different and I like it. I don’t care that it is not worn here. But it’s not an image from America, not at all. One day I just thought it and went to puncture my ears.
In his native Hažina will they be okay?
Even if not, I don’t care.
After success at the Winter Olympics in Beijing, where you were part of the bronze team, you have also added media experience. From more entertaining interviews in the regional Zemplin media to the nationwide ones. How do you perceive this part of hockey?
It does not interfere with me to talk in front of the cameras, but if I had to perform 50 people, I would be « knocked » because I have no experience with it. It is different with the media, I have no problem there. We have done the iKS-OPSILON interviews over the years and that will stick to a person.
Pavol Regenda in Anaheim jersey in NHL. (Author: SITA/AP)
Journalists like you because you can also relieve post -match conversations. For example, everyone saw your statement after the match against the French in Stockholm: « I would have a soup. » Players are under great pressure during the World Cup. Is humor your way to relax the atmosphere a little, don’t take it so seriously?
Yes. People see that when we talk to the media, we are all serious and we’re shaking the same things. Everyone is happy to hear something else. People may think that we don’t even know such things, but it’s not. We follow what others are. For the first years I tried to be decent in the interviews, but I am increasingly in front of the media myself. I said it exactly as I would tell my friends.
When one writes in Google « Pavol Regenda » jumps to him that he is a publicly known person. When you come to Hažín or Michalovce, do you feel like a publicly known person?
At all, I don’t see it that way. I’m a boy like any other, I’m not at all on a pear or anything. Sometimes it happens when I go around that someone rustles, « Oh, that’s Regend. » But I am modest and humble to every single person who comes to me. If he wants to take a picture or talk, it does not hinder me. I don’t think I’d be a star.
How do your loved ones perceive your career? We know, for example, that your grandfather reads articles about you.
My father watches every single match. Also my father’s brother, my baptismal.
Also on the farm? Via Internet streams?
Every day. My grandmother and grandfather send me photos of how they were cousin and four watched at three in the morning. They really watch every match. I don’t know how my father handles the robot, maybe we’ll get in it.
It is also watched by my brother, who goes to the robot early in the morning, so it usually makes the last third of my match in America. Everyone supports me and they are also looking forward to being at the World Cup. The most important thing is that they are a little better.
What do you say about hockey as a phenomenon in Slovakia? In May it is becoming the number one topic year after year.
I am glad that at least during the championships there is a big boom around hockey. It could be so throughout the year… But I am glad that the championship will connect people together.
So it should be, sport is about making people happy. Sometimes they have nerves behind the TVs, because they probably do not understand that we do everything on ice for success. Sometimes it looks bad, but we are also just people. We really try to cheer up people and we are happy to entertain them in the tavern in the tonight.
