Interview with VHLM star Jakub Kovar

[MichkovSzn 136]

The Philadelphia Reapers are the hottest team in the VHLM this year sitting atop the league table with 61 points in 36 games, on pace for 122 points over a full season, which would be the best season from a VHLM team in the hybrid era. Today we will be speaking with Jakub Kovar, a Czech left winger drafted 31st overall by the Reapers in the S97 dispersal draft who is having a breakout season being the team’s 4th highest scorer with 45 points and 18 goals so far, exceeding his full season total in 97 of 36 points and 13 goals.

Reporter: “Jakub, with the Reapers performing so well this season, what is the energy like in the locker room?”

Jakub Kovar: “Good, very good, everyone is very excited and pumped up for every game, much more fun than last year.”

 

Reporter: “How has it been getting used to the United States, now that you’ve been here for a season and a half?”

Jakub Kovar: “It has been quite tough, especially having to speak english all the time, and not being able to see my family as much, but soon I will be back in Europe in Warsaw so it’s all good.”

 

Reporter: “Did you expect the Reapers to do so well this year?”

Jakub Kovar: “Honestly no, obviously last year wasn’t great, missing the playoffs, I expected us to be better this season but not as great as we are right now.”

 

Reporter: “What do you think is the secret to both your improvement and your whole team’s improvement this season?”

 

Jakub Kovar: “I really think that the culture that our GM Matt has cultivated is the biggest thing, everyone is always working hard day in and day out to get better and prove something, and show everybody else just how good we can be and just how good we are.”

 

Reporter: “You were drafted 11th overall by Warsaw in the S98 VHL Draft, did you expect to go to Warsaw before draft night?”

 

Jakub Kovar: “Honestly I have to say that I didn’t even have Warsaw on my radar, as they weren’t one of the teams that interviewed me before the draft so seeing the call from N0H was a little surprising. Now that I have been though, I am very happy to be in Warsaw, though it was a personal goal of mine to be drafted in the top 10.”

 

Reporter: “I know you mentioned it being tough not being able to see family as much now that your in America, have they been able to come to any games so far?

 

Jakub Kovar: “Yes, a few, they came to my first game last year and were just here recently for a game against Ottawa.”

 

Reporter: “Do you think that you guys have what it takes to get over the hump and win a Founder’s Cup?”

 

Jakub Kovar: “I think we do for sure, we have a real next man up kind of mentality here and the leadership from guys like Longpre, Jeannot, Poole, Red, and Joy who have been in the playoffs before will really help.

 

Reporter: “Alright Jakub, that’s all for today, thank you for lending me a bit of your time for this interview today”

 

Jakub Kovar: “No thank you sir, it was a lot of fun speaking with you today.”

WC: 558