You´re returning to Sparta after two years overseas. Why are you coming back?
I went to Canada two years ago mainly due to the fact that I would get more exposure for the NHL draft. In addition, Sparta´s Extraliga team was very strong and I felt that I didn´t have much of a chance to play there as a 17-year-old. Now I think it´s a little different than when I left. I was glad that when I came here, Mr. Martinec and Mr. Jandač spoke to me and I had a good feeling. They said they saw me play and are happy that I´m here.
Martin Réway
- born 24th January 1995 in Prague
- drafted by Montreal Canadiens in 2013 in 4. round as 116. player
- represents Slovakia
- participated at two junior and one senior world championships
So this will be your rookie season as a professional coming up.
But you´ve already played against men at the highest level, at this year´s World Championship.
Playing in the World Championship has certainly helped me a lot, but I´ll have to work like everyone else. I believe that I can handle it. I´ll be playing against older players who have a lot of experience, which will only make me better.
Were you surprised to be chosen to play for the Slovak national team in Minsk, Belarus?
It wasn´t a complete surprise because I´d talked with the coaches of the junior national team about it. Slovakia wants to get younger players involved. Of course I was very happy when they called me, because I secretly hoped it might happen.
Did the chance to play for Slovakia more often play a role in deciding whether to return from overseas to Europe?
The fact that Sparta was interested in me only reinforced the fact that I could go back. At the same time, I´ll be on the radar of the national team coach and the World Championship is in the Czech Republic next year and I really want to play. I would like to play for the national team more often, and I can´t do that so often playing in Canada.
How does it happen that a Prague native ends up playing for Slovakia?
I was born in Prague and lived here 12 years, but my dad is Slovak and due to his work we moved to Slovakia. So I played there some three years. I started playing for youth national teams when I was 14 and at that time I was in the Slovak Republic, and they gave me an invitation. When I later came back to Sparta, we explored the possibility of playing for the Czech national team, but Slovakia gave me the chance and I am happy to be playing for them.
Do you feel more like a Slovak or a Czech?
Sort of half and half. My mom is Czech, my dad is Slovak, so I´m a mix.
After playing in two World Junior Championships and one senior World Championship, could you describe the biggest difference between junior and men´s hockey?
Regarding speed, I didn´t see much of a difference. It´s more the experience of the players. The patience with the puck, they know how to warm up, and they´re stronger. You´ve got a lot of players out there who have played a lot of high-level hockey, and you can see it on the ice.
Are there any players on the current Sparta team that you played with at the U18 or U20 levels? Which teammates do you know?
Yeah, it was nice to see some of the boys again. I played with Martin Procházka and Dominik Volek on the U20 team. I know some of the older guys too, like Dan Přibyl and Miroslav Forman. I still need to get to know some of the others, but I think it will be fine.
You´re here in time for summer training, which is not always a hockey player´s favourite time of year.
I don´t think it´s anyone´s favourite, but we need to get in shape, and that will help us for the whole season. For me, personally, this is the first time I´ve done summer training with a team in two years. I had a short break after the World Championship, then I have to start training.
According to your statistics from playing in Sparta and your two years in Canada, it seems you get more assists than goals. How would you describe your style of play?
I like to make a play if I have someone open. I have no problem with moving the puck, and I think I can work well with almost any other player. But if there´s no one open, if shooting is the better option, it´s better to shoot.
During your year playing with Sparta´s U18 team, you had 29 goals and 55 assists for 84 points in 34 games. Do you think you can do that in the Czech Extraliga?
We had a great team, we finished second in the league. We lost in the finals to Vítkovice. Every player is always happy to get points, but that´s also a reflection of your teammates, because without them I wouldn´t get those points. I try to play mainly for the team, because at this level you have to put individual statistics aside. Obviously, you´re always happy when you score a goal, but the important thing is how well you do as a team.
