We are looking for negatives, we Slovaks can not praise the extraleague, says the triple master – SME
6. May 2025 at 13:55
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Extraliga is an excellent competition, says grandmother.
Žilina. Hockey coach Daniel Babka (53) was attended by two world championships (1997 in Finland and 1999 in Norway). On the club scene he won three Slovak (one with Košice and two with Slovan) and two French league titles. Martin trained in the extraleague, but he spent some time in France.
In the year 2023/2024 as an assistant coach Ernest Bokroš helped to restore Žilina to the extraleague, in the past, again by the side Milan Bartovič He contributed to winning bronze medals.
With a 53-year-old pilot, we took over his role in the team, the last season, cooperation with coach Milan Bartovič, but we also talked about Martin’s hockey, which is an offspring.
You were already a Žilina, hugging him ultras. Bartovič draws from Kloppa, only English was heard by the cabin Read
How do you evaluate the competition year 2024/2025 from the overall perspective?
At the beginning of the season we set up a new work system, game principles and overall cabin. Many players from the first league remained in the team, so it was necessary to explore and find out which one would be able to skip to the extra league level. Nevertheless, another hockey is played in the highest competition.
At the beginning of the season we were balanced or better in some matches, but their teams, which are longer in the extraleague, were able to pull to their side. In the details we were still working on, they were able to exceed us.
We also focused on finding the optimal composition of the individual heels. Of course, sometimes there were some injuries. We placed great emphasis on the Christmas holidays to make it possible to do so responsibly. The point of the turn was the double match in Michalovce and Košice, we caught the winning line. It was great.
We can say that we have gradually tuned on the playoffs. We jumped significantly in the table, we were not even too far away from the first place, which was very encouraging for the whole team and the organization. We proceeded day after day, trying to win as many matches as possible to get as far in the playoffs.
In the interview you can also read:
- What Daniel Babka was in charge of the coach,
- As described cooperation with Milan Bartovič and what was on his younger colleague specific,
- What is Daniel Babka a pre -match ritual and what would feed him if he wasn’t a coach,
- As you prefer to relax in your free time,
- What does Martin’s advance to the Slovak hockey league say,
- Why does he miss the derby between Žilina and Martin in the extraleague.
How do you look back for the quarterfinal series against Banská Bystrica and semifinals against Nitra?
We knew that Banská Bystrica will be a very demanding opponent. The matches we played against them in the season showed us a way to play on them. We got ready for them. Our big advantage was that we had four balanced attacks.
The fourth formation played a big role in the quarterfinals, but others also joined. The second formation was also perfectly profiled, Alexander Avtsin was very productive. Compared to the regular season we went better and power play, we got over twenty percent success. There were also good weakening.
Much for the team was done by leaders like storyline or gachulinec. Holenda had a specific role, who had his pre -match motivational ritual, which always graduated and excited the team. They were pieces that fell into each other.
Despite the fact that Banská Bystrica had a higher, harder and more physical team, our guys were not afraid to play with the puck. They were durable, the movement on them was paid. It must be said that we were also lucky, but we also have to try.
The quarterfinal series has prepared us very well for the semifinals with Nitra. It is a pity that we lost the third match in the extension by a goal in our own power play. When we lowered to 1: 2 in the seventh match, the stadium suddenly fell. We had a lot of pressure, the equalizing goal was to fall.
If we equalized, the match could also turn to our side. Seventh match in Nitra We lost, but it had its objective causes. Maybe if we didn’t miss any guys, it would look different. But this is hockey. We missed the centers, which was felt in individual situations.
I have to say that the guys took it enough after the seventh match, because the game that was created here was unreal. The team spirit was above -standard, and was also transferred to the matches and self -confidence of collective performance. The guys were aware of the strength and performance of the team, they were able to turn the matches.
The competition is very balanced and no team can say today whether the first or the last will end. We have seen that such a huge brand as it is Zvolenwith a good team finished in tenth place after the regular season.
With the passage of time, we will appreciate the bronze medals more and more, because in the season you have to do a lot of excellent things.
What were you in charge of during your workouts and matches?
Most of the trainings were made by Milan Bartovič, but I also did some. We also had divided trainings, during which Milan was in charge of the attackers, I defenders and Dominik Antala goalies.
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