New Red Wings forward Dominik Kubalik spoke with Cesky Rozhlas (Czech Radio) Plzen’s Vladislav Janouskovec after skating in Pilsen today (home of HK Skoda Plzen).
There’s a 4:56 interview which accompanies the article, which you probably won’t get much of unless you understand Czech, but here’s a rough translation of the article which accompanies the interview:
Hockey player Dominik Kubalik trains as usual in Pilsen before flying overseas
Hockey player Dominik Kubalik is preparing for the new overseas NHL season in Pilsen. After three years in Chicago, he will wear the jersey of Detroit.
Like every summer, ice hockey forward Dominik Kubalik is preparing for the new NHL season at the Pilsen Ice Arena. After three years with Chicago, he will play for Detroit, with whom he signed a two-year contract.
The first training session on the Pilsen ice was preceded by a lot of time spent in the gym. “I hope it gets better and better. Of course it’s going to hurt [at first], but that’s how it is. Before, I always tried to be at 100% from the first practice, but now I know that the body needs some time [to get into shape],” said the 26-year-old Dominik Kubalik.
He goes to a Red Wings team without high expectations. He just wants to win the best possible position. “I know what the league is like, what my qualities are and what I need to improve,” Kubalik confided. After three seasons with Chicago, the new team is a great motivation and great challenge for him, which he takes positively.
Kubalik chose to wear the Red Wings’ jersey. Other players who signed contracts together with him helped the team change quite a bit. Czech players Filip Hronek, Jakub Vrana and Filip Zadina already play for the team. “I know those boys from the national team. I don’t see a problem with it, hopefully it won’t be over-examined,” said Dominik Kubalik, smiling.
There’s still plenty of time for practice. He has a month-and-a-half of training both on the ice and in the gym before he flies back overseas. He will also skate with Pilsen.
Dominik Kubalik, born in Pilsen, will celebrate his 27th birthday on August 21st.
Beer nerd here. Pilsner beer was created in Plzen by the Urquell Brewery.
I was gonna mention that Plzen is the home of Pilsner, but I thought nobody would care. I guess I was wrong! 😛
Ur (original) quell (source) is actually Deutsch (German). Their head brewer that created the style was from Bavaria.
Interestingly, Helles (light) Lager was being created in Germany around the same time.
My phone beeps whenever I get a WordPress comment. I was impressed by both comments. I want that on the record.