Imagine uttering the sentence a few months ago: “Two Slovaks were selected from the first two spots in the NHL draft.”
You would be considered a half-mad, at best a hockey illiterate. Today, this sentence becomes a headline in the whole (hockey) world.
Unbelievable, amazing and ultimately well deserved.
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What we witnessed
After 42 years, the Montreal Canadiens had the opportunity to select their unit in the draft. In addition, the NHL draft was held in Montreal’s Bell Centre, the largest temple of hockey in the world.
We can begin, the stage is set.
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All the important men of the most successful club in the world are standing on the stage, and between French and English, we suddenly hear “….from Slovak national team, Juraj Slafkovský” from Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes.
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For about a second, no one understands what is happening, not even Juraj in the stands. We see tears, hugs in the Slafkovski family. Draft favorite Shane Wright and our Šimon Nemec congratulate Juraj by shaking hands.
He then turns and walks towards the podium, where NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is already waiting. The first man of the profiliga welcomes him, then sends him to the representatives of Montreal.
The representatives of the most famous club in the world give Juraj a cap and a red-blue jersey with the number 1 and the name Slafkovský, which he puts on. Slovakia has the first NHL draft unit in its history!
In the first interview for the Canadian media, Slafkovský acts as we know him. With a relaxed expression, he jokes about Slovakia that it must be crazy at home. He is right, and that is not the end of all the “craziness”.
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