«I know how essential to encourage young guys, especially when some difficulties within the team happen»

World champion of 2010 year in the Czech national team and an entry of Chelyabinsk «Traktor» team told about the first impressions being in the club, reminisced the time when he was in Prague's «Lion», and shared the expectations towards September's World Cup.

Jiri, how's the preparation for the season going? Was the assemblage in Finland hard enough?
It wasn't easy, indeed, but I know what to expect, as this season is going to be my 8th in CHL. We tried different combinations in control matches, so we keep on preparing for the championship's beginning and the first game with SKA.

Your first impressions about «Traktor», please.
It's always unusual to get into the new team, though it's easier to blend into the team now than it was before. Chelyabinsk team is formed well, there are veterans and young talented guys as well. I'm very happy it's two more Czech players beside myself, Michal Repik and Pavel Francouz.

Did it happen to know anyone of them before?
I played with Alexey Kruchinin in «Lokomotiv», we actually were in the same chain. He was good even that time back, wanted to be given more time and wants to play the key role in the team now. In Yaroslavl we worked together with Yury Petrov and Alexandr Chernikov in pre-season'14, afterwards they moved to «Lada». Furthermore, we played with Igor Mirnov in «Atlanta», it was the first year in Russia for me.

Anvar Gatiyatulin, is he the youngest trainer you ever worked with?
I guess so. In my opinion, he is a very good trainer, more and more young trainers come into CHL bringing new ideas.

That's interesting enough your first game in «Traktor» was against «Lokomotiv», where you spent two previous seasons. Did they make an attempt to hold you in their team?
No, there's no surprise they didn't. I did have many traumas last season. Even though I played well in that play-off, it didn't make it better. There are Petri Kontiola, younger Finnish player in «Lokomotiv», Andrey Loktionov, great young trio too. I didn't feel I have a place there.

Was the last season the worst?
Definitely the worst.

Your last game with Repik was for Prague's «Lev», which gave away to Magnitogorsk only in the 7th final Gagarin Cup game. Was it special time?
Everybody has only good memories connected with it, when the new team got into the final and gathered the whole O2 arena notwithstanding that there are "Sparta" and «Slovakia» in the city. It was the best time in club's career, perfect hockey team and as perfect life in Prague which is the best in Europe if not around the globe. We were frustrated when «Lev» disappeared, such as life. It'd be great to arise the club, hopefully there will be time when someone will implement it. As for now, I'm in Chelyabinsk and carry on working in Russia with pleasure.

You were the captain in «Lev», sometimes in «Lokomotiv». Would you like to take such a responsibility in «Traktor» (the main trainer Anvar Gatiyatulin announced Vladimir Denisov is going to occupy this position)?
It's a matter of trainers, it doesn't make sense for me whether I'm an assistant or a captain. At any case I try to have conversations in locker rooms, help my partners and encourage them. In the very beginning advices of experienced players helped me a lot. I know how essential to encourage young guys, especially when some difficulties within the team happen. For this I need no letter on the sweater. Moreover, I'm capable of speaking all team languages: Russian, English, Czech.

As far as I could understand, you advised with ex-Traktor player Yan Bulis before signing the contract?
Yes, Bulis was the first whom I called on this occasion, as we had played in «Atlanta» together in my first year in Russia. I tried to know more about Chelyabinsk, because I need certain conditions for my two children. It's much easier to travel alone or with a gf. Bulis said he was left with the best impression after 4 seasons in