Anaheim (USA) – Hockey goalkeeper Lukáš Dostál from Anaheim is having a successful start to the season. Even with teammate John Gibson’s injury in mind, he has caught twelve of the Ducks’ 15 games in the NHL so far. In an online interview with Czech journalists, the reigning world champion from Prague said that he is trying to transfer to the new season the experience from the previous one, when even before its golden point, he was a full-fledged part of the team for the first time in his career for the entire year of the Canadian-American competition.
“Personally, I’m happy. Of course, I didn’t expect to get so much space in the summer. The opportunity came because Gibi (Gibson) had to have an operation and I was catching a lot of games. But that’s something you have to be ready for ready, and I’m very happy for the chance I got,” said Dostál.
But the 24-year-old goalkeeper also admitted that it was difficult. “It’s only my second (full) season in the NHL. I had to fight with it, but I just took it as catching and I have to be ready. I tried to recover well and be ready mentally. I think I’m he managed the start, but the season is terribly long and one swallow, a few matches, does not make spring,” smiled Dostál.
Even the reliable performances of the Brno native did not help Anaheim win. The Ducks have lost five of their last six games, the only win coming from a recovered Gibson. “I take it as the goalkeeper’s job is to give the team a chance. In three consecutive matches, I scored five goals twice and four goals once, so I didn’t give the team many chances,” he acknowledged. “Everyone wants to win, but we have a young team and we are all learning. But I think that we are gradually introducing the identity, what we want to play, into the matches and I believe that it will improve from match to match,” said Dostál.
He made it to the new season and carried over the comfort from the previous one, but he does not think that he would benefit extra from the success in the championship. “Of course, the end of the season was beautiful. I dreamed about it since I was a little boy, when I watched the championship every year. Ending the season like this was the icing on the cake. Thanks to that, I gained self-confidence. The experience of how to deal with such key matches. In addition, I caught the whole season in the NHL. I tried to transfer all this to the new season, and I think I’m doing well. But I still have to improve, the season is long and I need to be consistent,” he said.
However, the May championships, subsequent celebrations and media duties affected Dostál’s preparation. “The summer was a little different. There was less time and then I had to kick the propeller. In the camp I felt a little bit that I overdid it and didn’t rest. I didn’t count on the media interest. As an ordinary boy from the village, I wasn’t used to it . The summer was different. But I was preparing in Finland, so as soon as I left, it was fine,” said Dostál, who worked in the north of Europe before moving overseas and has been preparing there ever since.
Dostal started on a farm four years ago, after moving to the NHL he had to learn to cope with a demanding schedule. “That was something I struggled with a bit at the beginning. I was thinking a lot about hockey. But Gudy (Radko Gudas) helped me a lot with that. I had to learn to react. He has a big family, four children, sometimes there with them I spend time. I also try to go for walks, to the cinema. Such normal things,” he admitted.
The compatriot and current captain of the Ducks also advised him on how best to absorb fatigue. “When, for example, we fly for more than three hours, then we go for a 15-minute bike ride or exercise. These are details that I had to learn,” said Dostál.
He is also helped by the fact that he operates in Anaheim. That is, in sunny California. “It’s nice. I’ve actually experienced two extremes. When I was in Finland, I came to the hall in the morning when it was dark, and I came out and it was too. It’s sunny here, which is nice. Sometimes I still walk in flip-flops ” Dostál smiled.
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Source: www.ceskenoviny.cz
