Disillusioned Ramsay: Before the match, we talked about how to play to make the Slovak nation proud – World Cup 2023 – Hockey

It should have been a must-win to cap off a big night for him. However, Craig Ramsay, like his charges, was left disappointed after the unsuccessful match.

Photo: TASR, Martin Baumann

Battle meeting of the Slovak team led by Craig Ramsay.

The Slovak hockey players unexpectedly lost to Kazakhstan, and although they still have a chance to advance to the quarterfinals, their fate is no longer in their own hands.

They must win their remaining group games while relying on the hesitation of Latvia, who are in a better position and can seal the coveted play-off berth at home.

Read more The Kazakhs shocked the Slovaks. They showed their skillful hands in raids, the quarter-finals of Ramsay’s company are moving away

Ramsay arrived in the mix zone among the journalists in a depressed mood. He did not see the team’s performance at the game, the much-vaunted motto of the team in most matches.

“We stole a point from the opponent,” he tried to make light of the situation, but his voice quickly turned serious.

“We didn’t play as a team, we didn’t perform as we are obliged to do. We talked a lot about how great an honor and pride it is to wear the jersey of the national team, about how to play to make the Slovak nation proud of us. Yes, we fought, tied the game and took it to the raids. But that’s not enough,” said the disgruntled coach.

The Slovaks played solidly against Switzerland on Thursday, but did not find a way to victory. On Friday, they outshot the Kazakhs, they had the upper hand, but in the end it was only one point.

“Some of our players wanted to bring the puck into the goal from one end of the rink to the other. Against the Swiss, we lost pucks in the middle zone, today the pucks bounced off our hockey sticks on the offensive and defensive blue lines. And that was the moment that probably disappointed me the most.

Instead of patiently waiting for the puck and processing it, we went into motion before we even had control of it. It was an unnecessary complication that cost us several promising opportunities,” he continued.

Read more Gáborík was reminded of the American bath. It’s time for Ramsay to be mean to the players, Valábik was angry about the Kazakhs

Slovaks took the lead after Patrik Koch’s goal, but spoiled the game at the beginning of the second half of the game. Within four minutes, they conceded three times, which was also helped by unnecessary fouls.

“We foul a lot, I don’t even want to think about it anymore… It looks like we are the first to commit three or four fouls in every game.

It can’t happen to us. The players must realize that they are weakening the team. If they do unnecessary things in addition, then fouls arise from that,” emphasized coach Slovákov.

Young defenders Šimon Nemec and Samuel Kňažko were among the players who made several mistakes. Ramsay stood up for them, but admitted that it wasn’t ideal on their part this time.

“There were moments when they tried too hard. They are excellent players and they will be even better, but sometimes they take it too much on their shoulders. But that is also part of the process with youngsters.

Very good players will find a way to show a very good game. But if they try to do it every time, they can get into trouble. Sometimes “just” a good game is enough,” he explained.

The match against Kazakhstan was the experienced Canadian’s 123rd appearance on the Slovakian bench. He thus broke the previous record held by Július Šupler.

“The players tried, there’s no doubt about that. But yeah, the fact that we didn’t win put a bit of a damper on the record game,” admitted a sad Ramsay.

The Slovaks will be in action again on Sunday when they take on Slovenia.