At age 29, HC Kosice captain Marek Bartanus is playing in his first World Championship. Despite some ups and downs on the team, he's enjoying the experience.
by Veronika Pancurakova
SAINT PETERSBURG – At this year's IIHF World Championship, one of the players representing Slovakia is HC Kosice captain Marek Bartanus. For 29-year-old winger, this is his first time playing in the senior event.
“I'm really enjoying it. It's a big experience for me and I hope I'll use it later in my career,” he said after practice on Friday. “It's too bad about our last two games because we have no points from them.”
After winning their first two games against Hungary and France, the Slovaks lost to Germany and Belarus and are now in a difficult position. Their three remaining games in Group B are against Canada, Finland and the USA. Bartanus knows it will be not easy because of the strength of the opponents.
“They have really good players. For me it's nice to play against them. I can gain experience for later in my career because the hockey at the World Championships is fast.”
In the meantime, in Kosice have started their summer training without the team's captain. After a gruelling season, this off-ice work is nobody's favourite activity, but it's necessary.
“This part of year is not popular and I don't like it either,” he confided. “I am in touch with my teammates and I hear the latest news. The team is not complete at the moment, but I'm excited about the players who will come to Kosice. Of course, after the World Championship I'll start training with thea team in Kosice again, too. This part of the year is really important because we need physical strength as well as skating skills.”
While in St. Petersburg, Bartanus has an important mission from home. “My kids expect some souvenirs and I promised some for my teammates in Kosice, too. So I have to buy some t-shits and hockey pucks,” he said with smile. “We went on a sightseeing cruise here in St. Petersburg and it was really nice. This city is awesome. I am really happy I have the chance to be here.”
After returning home, the next meaningful games that Bartanus will play in will be in the Champions Hockey League too. Last season, Kosice won last season's Slovak Liga regular season to qualify for Europe's top club hockey competition for the third time in a row. Bartanus has played in all 12 CHL games that Kosice has played in the last two seasons, recording 8 points (3 + 5).
Kosice will face Swiss champions SC Bern and Austrian semi-finalists Black Wings Linz in Group M.
“We look forward to playing in that competition again. The opponents are powerful, but we'll do our best to beat them. We represent our country and our city which is a big honour for us.”