Martin Havlat News

A long time ago, we witnessed Martin Havlat and Patrik Elias shaking hands for the very first time. Place: Air Canada Centre, Toronto. Event: NHL awards ceremony. Back then, who would have thought these two players would become great friends? Havlat looked quite scared with his bright yellow hair, but Patrik was feeling comfortable in the posh environment. It was after Martin's first season in Ottawa and he was nominated for Rookie of the Year.

SportStyle: Martin, three years have passed since that awards ceremony. You've gained many experiences in the NHL. What's your view on the previous seasons?

MH: Of course you change and you improve your skills. You're more experienced and you know how much you can risk on the ice. Sometimes I freak out, like in the game against Philadelphia when I hit Recchi in his face with my stick. Fortunately he didn't get hurt. But all of it was just because he was constantly hooking me. My nerves flipped and I wanted to punish him somehow. Of course not into his head.

SS: You've been playing really well during the World Cup, especially together with Patrik Elias. Why?

MH: We're friends, sometimes we go for a cup of coffee together. Luckily we're doing this well on the ice, too. We played together against Finland and then the coach (Vladimir Ruzicka) added David Vyborny into our line and it was perfect. The guys are skilled, they play really well and they are technically skilled. I regard Patrik highly because he's one of the best NHL players. I think all the offense lines (on the Czech team) are perfect. The quarterfinals against Sweden showed that Vladimir Ruzicka decided really well. Sometimes we need good luck but we didn't expect the quarterfinals would be that easy in the end.

SS: Canada is like your second homeland. Last year you were arguing about the deal with Ottawa and this year the league probably won't even start.

MH: Negotiations haven't come to any resolution and it seems the lockout will last for a longer time. I don't know. And arguing about a deal is a part of hockey, just like unexpected trades. I'm not going to let anyone pull my leg. Frankly, I wanted to play so much, but not for all costs. When I didn't like something, I told them. They were maneuvering and in the end we made the deal anyway. At least I could experience the Extraliga. Sparta was full of great people--players, masseurs, trainers.

SS: There is lots of money in the NHL. Do the players envy each other?

MH: Players' salaries are a public matter so there's no room for envy. In Canada, hockey is a number one sport so you have to get used to reading many things about yourself in the newspapers. It's like soccer in Italy.

SS: Are you afraid of losing your privacy?

MH: Not really, I keep many things for myself. Sometimes your honesty returns to you as a boomerang, in a bad way. I'm a hockey player so I prefer to answer only questions which are concerning my sport. I can't imagine being in Jaromir Jagr's skin and not being able to do anything without the critical attention of the public. You're constantly under control. It must be really psychologically demanding. Jarda [Jagr] is my great friend, too. Sometimes we go for a dinner and talk about hockey matters.

SS: In Salt Lake City, he told you not to have such a respect of him and not to pass him the puck at all costs. Did that make you feel good?

MH: Words of such an awesome player always make you feel good. But it was my first time at the Olympics and I was there to repeat the Nagano winning. I felt a big responsibility and I didn't want to spoil anything. In the World Cup, I'm few steps further. It's important to be a great team, have a positive attitude on things. Of course if we were in Sweden's skin, there would be no room for jokes.