FiZi

1. Houston after 1 week: 4-4-2, 4th in the Western Conference. Does our current record reflect the rest of the season? PLAYER: Well, we started the season with a great scoring performance followed by a tough shootout loss, I feel like this game really influenced the next three games. In those, we weren´t able to create many chances and it wasn´t until the third period of the third game that we finally found our footing and did well. Despite our late push, we lost 5-4 scoring 4 in the last period. After this period we wanted the next game to start the same way and it was the case, scoring 4 unanswered in the first. Then we lost 2 back to back against a tough opponent the Mexico Knights. The last two games were important wins; otherwise, our record would look much worse. Through our first 10 games, I think we´ve had some ups and downs, but every team has. The season has just started and we´re still trying to settle in. And does it reflect the rest of the season? Not, there´s plenty of time left and our team has a young roster. We improve with every game we play and keep fighting until the last second. I don´t think anyone in their right mind is writing us off at this moment and you should watch out cause our goal is to be competitive no matter the opposition. 2. How has your player performed through these first 10 games? ME: Filip is performing at a high level. I think he exceeded expectations and proved many people wrong. There were some doubts about how he will adapt to the narrower rinks. But it seems that he doesn´t struggle with that. One thing he struggled with though was his confidence. After he didn´t even hit the goal on his shootout attempt in the second game you could feel that something about his game was a bit off. In the next 6 games, he had just 3 points. But in his last two, you could feel that he was back in business and posted 4 points in those. Putting him just under a point per game with 9 points in 10 games. He also has the 2nd highest shooting % on the team (just behind Nathan Ecker) and when asked about it he said this: "You try to find the perfect pass to your friends and when you do it´s almost a tap in. Me and @Nathan_8 have been putting our effort towards this in practice and we´re happy that it works. Though we should maybe try to shoot more 'cause the chances of us scoring when we do are a bit better than us playing it around and then loosing it." he said with a grin on his face after the game against Saskatoon Wild. 3. Team Bonding Opportunity!: Ondrej Vencko @Mutti is a well-known drug addict. We need to hop the border from Texas to Mexico, what vehicle are we cruising in to partake in illegal activities? PLAYER: I mean we could take our team bus. Nobody will expect us to have drugs on board of a bus and no one will be bothered since more than half of our team are North American-born players. And even if they stopped us, @Mutti and I know where to hide them. We were roommates in Czech under 18 teams once or twice and got them everywhere we wanted to. 4. @Nathan_8 was announced this week as Houston's newest AGM. Do you have any words of advice for Nathan? Anything you would like to say? PLAYER: Nate is my linemate and since we spend a lot of time together on and off the ice. I knew about it a bit earlier since he told me that some talks were ongoing. And even then I told him that it was a great idea and he was well suited for the job. He and @AJW will be a great team I know it. 5. Our captain Trimiskez Artav @jake and our assistant captain Chris Reynolds Jr @Crstats23 lead the team with 7 goals each. In the 72-game season, how many goals will the two end up with? My guess is around 45-50 goals for each of them. How many goals will your player end with? PLAYER: Well, hopefully as many as possible. I think they will both hit 50. Well, at least that´s what I´m hoping for. But leave some goals for the playoffs as well guys. For me, I set my goal a little low at 20 but if I score at this rate I will have that in 40 games and we still have 62 to play so we´ll see. 6. I am deciding to drop everything I have and run! The mafia has caught up to me and Houston needs a new GM now. You have been chosen to fill my spot! As GM of the Houston Bul, ls what is the first thing you do? ME: Hopefully, that doesn´t ever happen. Firstly I don´t know anything about being the GM. Secondly, you´re one of the best GMs out there. And if I ever become a GM, I would like to be as good as you cause so far I gotta say, that you´ve done everything in your power to help me even though It was easy at times.

4. The team is throwing a huge BBQ party to boost team chemistry and you are invited! Your requirement to come is you need to bring a dish for everyone to eat, what are you bringing to the table? PLAYER: I won´t bring a dish. Since I´m from Czechia, you know what I´m bringing. The best beer. It´s even better since Pilsner Urqell is produced in Pilsen and that´s my birthtown. 5. What type of build are you planning to make for your player? Sniper? Two-Way Defender?... PLAYER:: I don´t know yet. I wanna be useful at both ends of the puck. At the moment I´m focusing on shooting and passing + skating. But once I have that a bit better I wanna focus on the defensive side of the puck more. 6. Where do you predict Houston will place this season in the league? Last season we finished 2nd overall with 52 wins! PLAYER: Play-off spot, it doesn´t matter if we´re first or fourth I think we will give anyone a run for their money. At least I know we´re capable of doing that. 7. Do you have a favourite warm-up song? What song are you choosing before a game to get you dialled in? PLAYER: Almost all of them are Czech. But some of them aren´t. From the top of my head, I can think of Dior by POP SMOKE. 8. When road trips hit, the flights and bus rides can be a bore, what movie should the team watch on the built-in TV screens to pass the time by? PLAYER: Well, there are many great films but I think it might be better to watch a TV series. Two and a half man seems like a good option since I never met someone who didn´t like it. 9. The team management would like to plan a vacation trip for the whole team and staff. Where is somewhere you have always wanted to go on vacation? PLAYER: Well, I´ve always wanted to go to Okinawa. Birthplace of karate. Why? I´m a huge fan of Karate Kid and Cobra Kai. And would like to try learning karate myself once I retire.

PLAYER 1. I'm the new General Manager here! It's a pleasure to fill out the team from scratch with a fresh batch of promising players. What are your career plans for your player? Well, I want to be the number-one league scorer in every league I join no matter how long it takes. I work hard and play with a big effort in both zones. I´m joining from a Czech U18 league with a promise of making it to the VHL. 2. Let's talk about hockey. What do you like the most about the sport? Well, the thing I like the most is I can be myself. When I´m out there, I feel like I´m on the top of the World. I don´t have to think about anything other than hockey. 3. Is there an NHL star player that you model your player after? If so, who is it? Well, I don´t have just one specific player. I would want my player to have a shot like Matthews. Skate like McDavid and hit as hard as Radko Gudas. But that is not possible at least yet. Hopefully I will grind my way there. ME 4. Which NHL team do you root for? Which one can't you stand?? My favourite team was and always will be the Philadelphia Flyers. I started to root for them when I was as young as I can remember. I would say that it was because one of my all-time favourite players Jakub Voráček and Radko Gudas played there, but when I was younger I liked the unconventional colours. And their logo. 5. IRL question: How are you doing? Are you a student in school, or working? What's up in general with things in your life? I am a high school student, I´m in my last year and at the moment my biggest fear is to pass the final exams. After that I would like to attend university and since I have highly above-average numeral thinking I would like to go to a technical university. I´m a very loving person, I have a part-time job as a shisha master at a hookah lounge. I love playing golf and football (soccer for those who don´t know which football is called that way, the other one is American ). 6. How much time do you dedicate to activity on the forums or discord to keep up with league activity? I would like to at least check everything every day, but that might not be possible since it´s my last year of high school but I´ll try.

You´ve probably never heard of him. His name is Filip Zinek. He has recently turned 18 and played in Pilsen his whole life. His performances didn´t stand out until the latest season, where he put up a game average of 1,9 points per game and was the leading scorer and point leader. He also got called up multiple times by the A-team where for a youngster he put up astonishing numbers. In just 12 games averaging 14:05 time on ice per game, he put up 6 goals and 4 assists for 10 points and was a +3. In a few post-game interviews he had he was very humble and mature for his young age. You might be wondering why would I compare him to Petr Straka. That´s because they were both born in Pilsen and have played for their youth teams. They are both left-wingers of similar height and weight. They also put up similar numbers in the U18 league. Petr put up 40 goals, 74 points in 46 games. Not bad right but now listen to this? Filip put up 39 goals, 76 points in 6 fewer games. These are outstanding numbers and he still has some time to grow. These were some great prospects for Pilsen´s hockey team, but at the end of the season, Filip told the media that one of his dreams was to play in the VHL and that he would want to take the first big step towards making it. This news took the GM of Pilsen by surprise, but as he wanted to see the youngster succeed he allowed him to try out the free agent market. Now he´s looking for a new home. Will anyone be interested and what happens if he doesn´t find a club? Nobody knows, but we surely will inform you tomorrow about this information

Player Information Username: FiZi Player Name: Filip Zinek Recruited From: YouTube Age: 18 Position: LW Height: 74 in. Weight: 188 lbs. Birthplace: Czechia Player Page @VHLM GM