QA With Michal Valent
Scouting: A big, athletic goalie .. a good skater who moves solidly within the crease .. possesses excellent reflexes and quickness .. makes good use of his above-average footspeed and is quick to recover when he drops down to a butterfly .. excellent anticipation and instincts to changes of pace in the game .. lively glove hand .. plays with good dexterity .. tough to beat on the initial shot .. needs to improve his mental toughness and rid himself of the penchant for letting in the occasional soft goal .. has to develop his puckhandling skills.
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How old were you when you started playing hockey?
M. Valent: When I was four years old, I laced up the skates for the first time. But it took two more years before I really started playing organized hockey, so it can be said that I started at six.
Where did you begin playing?
M. Valent: I began to perform for the entry level team of my hometown, Martin, Slovakia. I played my way through all the age categories in Martin before (making) the junior team. I'm thankful to this franchise for teaching me the basics of hockey and making my further hockey development possible. But I'm going to play in the Czech Republic next season, I signed a contract with the Sparta Praha team.
Who directed your first hockey steps?
M. Valent: That was my father, a former hockey player. He played organized hockey until the junior level and when I was a little kid, he brought me to the hockey arena in my hometown. I grew fond of hockey immediately and soon started my own career. I'm very thankful to my dad.
Did you always play as a goalie?
M. Valent: No, I didn't. Actually, I started (as) a forward for the entry level team. But I liked preventing others from scoring more and was a bit lazy to skate hard, too. So after a few practices the coaches (asked) me whether I would be interested in dressing in a goalie's gear. I agreed and began to play goal. At that time I thought that a goalie is just standing in the crease and doesn't really do anything. Now I know that this is definitely (not the case).
What is your greatest success in hockey so far?
M. Valent: I definitely appreciate the opportunity to play as the starting goaltender for the Slovakian Under-18 team at the recent Under-18 WJC in Minsk, Belarus. The whole event was exciting and it was a big success for me to play at such a tournament.
What individual trophies did you win during your career?
M. Valent: I won three individual trophies during my previous career. The first came in 1999 at the Bobys tournament in Povazska Bystrica, Slovakia, where I was voted the top goaltender. At a tournament in Ostrava-Vitkovice in the Czech Republic the next year I won the same trophy and at the 2004 Under-18 WJC in Minsk, Belarus I was voted as a 'three stars' selection from the Slovak team after the tournament.
What are your feelings about the performance of team Slovakia at the 2004 Under-18 WJC?
M. Valent: I have (some) mixed feelings. When we traveled to Belarus, we heard a lot of experts predicting that we would play in the relegation group. But we didn't lose a single game in the preliminary group and advanced, which was considered a huge surprise. We finished only in sixth place in the end, though. I can't say that I'm happy, that wouldn't be true. I expected a bit more. We accomplished our goal to advance out of the preliminary group, but that isn't really much of a big success.
Are you happy with your performance this season?
M. Valent: This season was very demanding for me. Because I played for both the midget and junior teams. I dressed for about 70 games and played in 13 international games as well. That makes for a total of 83 games. I played in the relegation series with the junior team of Martin, whose season was largely considered to be a disappointment, because the Martin junior team played in finals in the two previous seasons. But we managed to stay in the junior Extraleague for the next season. I made the playoffs with the Martin midget team, but we lost to Skalica 2:1 in the opening round. I think that it was very close and with a little bit more luck we could have advanced. I'm quite happy with my overall performance, I had some bad games, but always managed to bounce back.
You are leaving your home country to play in the Czech Republic for the Sparta Praha junior team. What are your expectations for the next season?
M. Valent: I expect a really hard season. I'm happy that I will be playing under the tutelage of experienced coaches and think that this experience will help my further development. I would like to help the junior team to a good place in the junior Extraleague standings and hopefully (get) my feet wet with the senior team. It will be hard, but I'll do my best to achieve these goals.
How would you describe yourself as a player?
M. Valent: I would say that it is tough for me to describe myself. I have to work really hard on everything in my style. I know what my weaknesses are, but I would like to keep them as my secret. As for the strengths, I would mention my agility and footspeed.
Are there any particular parts of your game you would like to improve during the next season?
M. Valent: It would be best for me to improve in all assets of my game, but if I'm to mention one exact thing, I would like to upgrade my mental focus, because it is very important for a goaltender. And I would also like to improve on my puckhandling, in today's game a goaltender can't just stop the pucks, he is asked also to pass it to his teammates with precision.
Do you have a hockey role model?
M. Valent: Well, it is tough to say who is my real role model is. When I was smaller, I really liked lot of NHL goalies - names like Martin Brodeur, Ron Hextall and Ron Tugnutt come to mind. I wanted to be like them but nowadays I watch every good goalie and try to learn something from their playing style, like their reactions in some game situations and so on. It can be said that all goalies are my role models. At the recent World Championships in the Czech Republic I liked the style of Ty Conklin from Team USA a lot.
What is the NHL team that you cheer for?
M. Valent: Probably the Edmonton Oilers. They were the team I watched in my first NHL game which I attended and was attracted by their play a lot. Even though they aren't one of the (true) top NHL teams these days I cheer for the Oilers a lot.
Do you have a favorite number you like to wear on your jersey?
M. Valent: Although I don't have an exact favorite number, I prefer to play with number 1 on my back. It is the usual goalie number.
Have you ever sustained a serious injury?
M. Valent: Fortunately, I didn't suffer a serious injury during my career so far. But once during a practice a puck fired by a teammate hit my head and my helmet broke apart. I have a two-inch long scar on my forehead due to this accident.
What are your pre-game superstitions?
M. Valent: I don't have many. (One) is that I always walk on foot to the arena. In Martin it takes about half an hour to get to the arena from our house. (Also), I always the same way to put my gear on and I try to do exact the same things I did before a good game. And I take a little prayer before the beginning of each period.
What duties take up your time when you’re not playing hockey?
M. Valent: I have to do school (work) in my free time. I go to a secondary school focused on business in my hometown and it takes me quite a lot of time. But I also like to be active in my free time. I prefer to play ball hockey, tennis, volleyball and basketball. A good way how to relax for me is riding my bike or swimming. I took swimming practices for four years actually. I like to draw pictures; when I was small I attended a school focused on arts. Another good (way to) relax for me is to watch interesting movies like 'Gothica', which stars Hale Berry, and listening to the music of groups (like) Metallica or Good Charlotte. I like to eat typical Slovakian food and drink all kinds of non-alcoholic drinks.
Which coaches influenced your career the most?
M. Valent: Every coach has taught me something new. At the entry level coach Klesken had a very enjoyable way to teach us hockey basics and we liked his practices. Coach Majo Hutka, a former goaltender, taught me the most and introducing to me the vital letters of the goaltender's alphabet. Coach Hutka coached me for six years, from the third to the ninth grade. And I can't forget about coach Pavol Simka, who made my transition from forward to goaltender possible. I would like to say thanks to all my coaches.
What is your current height and weight?
M. Valent: I stand at 6'1", 185 lbs.
As a hockey player, what are your aspirations?
M. Valent: Definitely (making) the NHL. It is my biggest dream since childhood.