Riga’s Hlozek Steps Up Pre-Season Training

[Bojovnik 487]

July 7 (CZHockey) - It’s already been a long off-season for the players of the Riga Reign, after the Latvia-based club missed out on the playoffs for a second year in a row, but defenseman Jan Hlozek said that he was determined to be in better shape to start the season next time round.

 

The Reign’s season ended in devastating fashion after the club from the Latvian capital dropped their final game against the Moscow Menace to miss out on a place in the play-in via tiebreak.

 

Hlozek has already returned to his native Czech Republic and told CZHockey that he was well into his offseason training with the aim of getting better.

 

“Each season that I’ve played, whether it’s been in the VHLM or VHL, I’ve always been a slow starter. I’ve made some changes to my offseason training schedule with the hope of being in top shape by the team the season starts, to ensure that the Reign don’t start off slow once again and find ourselves behind the 8-ball by the mid-point of S79,” Hlozek said in an interview.

 

The Topolna native said that he was working with his father, who coached his junior teams in the town of Vsetin, as well as a number of the Czech Republic’s finest players to maximise his time at home.

 

“I’ve always trusted my father’s training programs. We’ve made some changes, but he’s the person that motivates me the most. He’s my most fierce critic, so I need to spend as much time with him as possible to get better, and I always listen to what he has to say,” Hlozek stated.

 

The Czech blueliner, who was the second top rookie point scorer in the VHL having racked up 50 points, said that he was working on improving his fitness and skating this offseason.

 

“I think the speed of the VHL was perhaps the most surprising thing for me. I found it difficult to keep up, especially at the start, and so we wanted to work on both my all-around fitness and edgework. At the moment, a lot of what we’re doing is long runs and sprints in the hills, and when we’re on-ice, we’re mostly doing exercises that will help improve my agility and edge work. I also want to be stronger on my skates to ensure that the bigger forwards in the league can’t outmuscle me,” Hlozek remarked.

 

Hlozek said that he was fully focused on his off-season regimen, following several stories out of Latvia that the Topolna native caused a fracas in a Riga bar at the end of the season.

Several photos and videos have been published online showing Hlozek involved in several altercations and leaving a bar with a laceration under his eye.

 

A spokesperson for the Riga Reign has said that Hlozek has already been disciplined for his conduct, and the Czech defenseman said that he had already listened and has taken on board the comments.

 

“Look, I can’t be doing that sort of thing. It’s been a long season, I was frustrated that we lost our final game, but of course that’s not the sort of things that professionals do. I need to be better, and trust me, I’ve been criticized by everyone under the sun for my behavior. I will try my best to make sure that something like this doesn’t happen again because it’s embarrassing for me, my family, and my team,” he stated.

 

Hlozek had a remarkably successful final season in the minor leagues, winning the Founders Cup with the Miami Marauders and the World Junior Championship with Team Europe.

This time round, the 24-year-old has been left with more time to contemplate on what he needs to do to take his game to the next level.

 

“It’s been an interesting period of time, not having games. I think last season, the championships and the awards came thick and fast, so it was difficult to reflect on my game. Was I too arrogant going into this season? Maybe. Now, knowing how sucks it is to miss out on the playoffs, I’m more determined than ever to make sure that I help the Reign get into the playoffs next season,” Hlozek said.

 

Hlozek, who was the eighth overall pick in the S77 draft, has just one season remaining on his entry level deal.

 

There have been some reports out of Latvia that Hlozek was relatively annoyed with the performance of the team last season and may look to leave the Latvian capital at the first available opportunity.

 

When asked to comment on these rumours, Hlozek said that he was fully committed to spending a sizeable portion of his professional career with the Reign.

 

“Look, the Reign took a chance on me by drafting me so high. There were many great players still on the board but they saw something in me that they liked, and have been super supportive to me ever since drafting me. I feel a responsibility to repay their trust and to ensure that I am not a disappointment. As a result, to leave at the first opportunity is not on my radar. If they want to trade me, that’s their prerogative, but I can’t foresee the impetus for such a move being from my end,” Hlozek remarked.

 

A further two weeks in the Czech Republic lies ahead for Hlozek before he returns to the Latvian capital for pre-season training.

 

When asked what he would like to achieve in that time, the Topolna native stressed that he wanted to spend these weeks surrounded by friends and family.

 

“I’m a family guy. I love where I’m from and I always love coming back here. So, my motivation now is to make sure that I spend as much time as I can with the people that love me before making my way back to Riga for the long season. Plus, the food here at home is much better than in Riga. I don’t mean to offend anyone, but that’s truly the case. You can’t get Kofola in Riga. You can’t get good goulash in Riga,” Hlozek concluded.

[Bojovnik 487]

Week two!

[Retuperkele 21]

I really enjoy how you highlight players quotes in the article, makes it easier to read. +1 for the narrative perspective

No grammar error stuffs anywhere, so good job on that

 

7/10