Vitkovice Ostrava captain Rostislav Olesz had two points on Tuesday night against Karpat Oulu. Yet he's not pleased with his own play nor of his whole team following the loss.
by Daniel Jezek
OSTRAVA – The third season of the Champions Hockey League started with a game between Vitkovice Ostrava and Karpat Oulu. Last season’s runners-up looks strong at the beginning of the season, as Karpat beat Vitkovice 4-2. The Finnish team built its lead in the second half of the second period, when it scored twice. The Czech team managed to answer only once and lost the first game in Group E, which also includes the Krefeld Pinguine from Germany.
Vitkovice captain and Cramo Top Scorer Rostislav Olesz scored his team's first goal and assisted on the second, but he was obviously disappointed with the result. “Karpat is very strong and experienced team. They were controlling the game as they built the lead. We abandoned our game plan, which should never happen again,” he strongly stated.
The first CHL game of the new season goes to Karpat. Was it a tough one?
“We knew that this will be a very tough game. We started with a bit too much respect to them, I guess. We should’ve had a better start, just like we did in game against Linkoping HC last week. We conceded three goals from right in front of our net, which should never happen.”
You were able to tie the score in the second period, but then Karpat scored twice…
“The first ten minutes of the second were okay – we managed to tie the score. Our play was good, we had some chances. But then they scored two quick goals – that’s when we stopped playing altogether. We talked about it in the locker room, but we couldn’t restart our game.”
But third period was good, no?
“Yeah, we tried to get a lot of pucks to the net, but against an experienced team that is very good on the puck, it’s just too hard.”
Two goals within a minute is too quick, isn’t it?
“In hockey, even two goals in two shifts is too fast. Karpat are a very strong and experienced team. They were controlling the game as they built the lead. We abandoned our game plan, which should never happen again. ”
What mistakes were made when Karpat scored twice in almost one minute?
“Goals always come as the result of some mistake. Yes, we made a few. The puck has to go quickly out of the zone. I was on the ice when they scored for the second time. They got the puck in front of our net, and even four players weren’t enough to stop it. We have to block all shots in that situation and it didn’t happen.”
You’ve played four tough games in just five days. How’s the team's energy level?
“Hockey and regeneration have moved to a whole new level. We are professional players, and it’s just the beginning of the season. We had a good rest, and moreover we have great regeneration facilities. Ostrava is 'Little Vancouver', as our coach says. We can’t make any excuses. To be tired after just one week? That probably sounds ridiculous.”
So you wouldn’t say that you are tired?
“We’ve played all games with four lines, never with three or even less. You get only about 15 minutes of ice-time as you play with all players. What does that mean for a professional hockey player?”
You've been playing on a line with Roman Szturc and Stanislav Balan. How has that gone so far?
“At this point of the season we're not yet at the level we should be. Although we don’t have speed or drive in our lane, we should be the leaders of the team. We have to get the puck into the attacking zone, win a face off there and leave it for the second line. How they can play afterwards if we leave the puck in our zone and they have to start all over again? I wouldn’t say I'm satisfied yet.”
Is this dissatisfaction a reflection of this first game?
“Yes, it’s possible. We lost our match-up with their first line – they scored twice on us. I’m not saying that we have to keep scoring goals, but we have to be able to set things up for our teammates to allow them to score. And when we leave the ice and the puck is in our zone – that won’t probably work.”