PowerPlay περιοδικό

Our Godfathers of hockey in Slovenia, Marcel and David Rodman, took some time to answer my questions about them and their thoughts about PPM.

They are both Slovenian national team players and they have competed in several World Championships for their home country. Currently they play in the international Austrian Erste Bank Eishockey Liga for the Vienna Capitals. As we have informed you earlier in hockey news, we have visited them in Vienna and attended their game against Red Bull Salzburg on January 28. The home team won 3-2 thanks to a late power play goal in the third period. Unfortunately, Marcel could not play due to injury. David assisted on the opening goal of the game.

Because Marcel was free of his playing duties, he and his wife Veronika have shown us a bit of Vienna before the game. They are expecting a their first baby soon not to be outdone by David and Ajda whose little daughter was born recently as we had reported in the news.

We didn't see too much because there was not enough time and we wanted to make it to the game in time. However, things got really complicated when the subway stopped in one station and would not take us any further. Apparently someone called in there was a bomb on the subway. Marcel and Veronika said that during those 3 years that they had spent in Vienna, this was the first time something like that happened.

When we were thrown out of the subway, we tried our luck with the bus. You would not believe how packed it was. I was amazed that all 7 of us, including the pregnant Veronika, were able to fit in there. We all had a good laugh about it, but time to the start of the game was running out.

Then the bus driver thrown us out of the bus saying the subway is operational again. So we

gave it a go only to find out that it was not the case. Then we tried again to catch a bus or a cab, but there was such chaos in the city that it was impossible. Even the bus driver was not sure where he should go. After some wait we were again informed that we can use the tube. This time it was true and we were finally on our way to the game. Marcel was most disappointed because he wanted us to see the fireworks before the start of the game.

Of course, we missed the start and we managed to arrive just as the Capitals had scored the first goal of the game. We couldn't see it as we were only trying to find our seats, but we definitely heard the roar from the crowd. I took some pictures from the game and our trip around Vienna. After the game we had dinner with Marcel, David and their wives. We had a really good talk about hockey, PPM and other things as you could imagine.

You have both started playing hockey at an early age. How did that happen? Why did you take up this sport?

Marcel: To be honest, I am not excatly sure why, but I was 5 years old when I started playing. I think my dad loved the sport so much that he took me to the rink once and I guess I fell in love with hockey right away.

David: Our father used to take us to hockey games when we were very young so we fell in love with the game at an early age. I was 4 years old when I started to practice.

Hockey has made great strides in Slovenia over the last 10 years. You are now a borderline top division nation and you have Anze Kopitar and Jan Mursak playing in the NHL. Has this influenced the popularity of the sport in your country? Do people take more interest in hockey?

Marcel: I think Anze and Jan are defenitely helping with the promotion of hockey in Slovenia. But hockey has always been pretty popular, we just never had players playing in the NHL before. That doesn't mean that we didn't have good players. There have been some amazing players in the past, it was just a lot harder to go and try it in North America before. Nowadays, there are a lot of young kids who leave home at a very young age to pursue their dream. Now there is a lot more NHL on TV too. When I was a kid, there was no NHL on TV at all. We just knew that NHL was the best league in the world, but we had no idea, how it actually looks like. Kids now see it on TV and they say: "that's where I want to play. I want to be like Anze some day."

David: Yes, Kopitar and Mursak playing in NHL has a big influence on hockey in Slovenia. I think that now young players have somebody to look up to and they know that even from Slovenia it is possible to go to NHL.

Has there ever been any sibling rivalry between you or have you always supported each other?

Marcel: When we were kids we would always play at home and let me tell you, we took our battles very seriously. If I lost, I was angry and so was David if he lost. But away from home we always supported each other and helped each other.

David: No, not really. Most of the time we try to help each other. But of course when we were younger I always wanted to be as good as my brother.

Can you tell the readers what kind of players you are? We know you are both forwards, but what style of game do you play?

Marcel: I play at center position so I am more of a playmaker. I always need to be back in defensive zone quickly so I play a lot of defense too. David is more of a shooter and very dangerous around the net.

David: I think my brother has good hockey sense. He is a good playmaker who brigs energy to the game and he can score. One of his strengths is his defense too. My job is more offensive, I am expected to make good passes and score goals.

What do you consider to be your strengths and weaknesses?

Marcel: I think I always give my best. I always expect a lot from myself so even if I have a good game, maybe I scored 3 goals, but I  made this one defensive mistake, I am not happy. Lately, I could say my weaknes is my scoring touch. Hopefully it's just a temporary thing because in the past it really hasn't been a big problem for me. Other weeknesses I better keep for myself.

David: Weakness - defence, strengths - scoring, power plays, passing.

If you had to compare your style of play to a famous NHL player, which one would it be?

Marcel: Hm, thats is really hard to say, but when I was 13 years old and when I did get a chance to see an NHL game for the first time I saw Steve Yzerman and I wanted to play like him.

David: That is a hard question. I never saw a live NHL game so I can't really say who do I look like. But my teammates used to say that I looked like Jaromir Jagr.

You have played on the same clubs for a few years in a row now. Do you always play on the same line or do the coaches sometimes separate you?

Marcel: For the last 5 years we have been playing for the same team. And all the time we have been playing on the same line. There are a few shifts here and there when we don't play together, but mostly we do.

David: Most of the time we play on the same line.

How have you found out about PowerPlay Manager and what convinced you to start playing this game?

Marcel: I was injured at the start of the season last year so I had a little extra time to spend on my computer. I don't recall exactly, but I came across this hockey manager game on the internet so I tried it. I think after two days I told David: "I found this game on the net, you have to try it, it's awesome." I was hooked right away.

David: My brother introduced me to the game. The whole concept of the game convinced me. Having your own team, handling the money, building a rink and all those other things.

Have you also tried other similar games? If yes, what makes PowerPlay Manager different?

Marcel: I always liked games like this. Soccer managers or hockey managers. But most of them I played for a while and then stopped just because I got sick of it. With PPM, you can only do so much in one day so you actually wait until the next day to do more. There is still a lot I need to learn and there is still a lot of things that will happen when my players get older so I know that there is a very very strong possibility that I will be playing this game for a long time.

David: No.

What are your long term ambitions on PowerPlay Manager?

Marcel: I would like to make it to the second league in 2 seasons and then hopefully soon to the first league. I think it will be very hard, but winning something would be awesome. Right now, there are a lot of areas where I can get a lot better so I just want to get better and hopefully that  will get me to the first league some day, maybe all the way to the top. But it will be very hard.

David: To keep making my team better and move up in the standings.

When your playing career is over, do you think you could become a manager of a hockey team?

Marcel: I think I could, because I was always into this kind of stuff. I have been playing in many countries so I have seen how some things work in different places. But its hard to say if I will ever get a chance. A lot of different things would have to happen. As of know, I only hope I stay healthy so that I can continue playing for as long as my body will let me.

David: I think I could as well. I have been on a lot of different teams in different countries so I know how various teams are working. That would probably help me. But I still plan to play for a while and I'm not thinking about managing a real hockey team yet.

The World Championship in Slovakia starts in a few months. It is very likely that you will be again part of the Slovenian team. What kind of a result would make you happy?

Marcel: I really hope I will take part in this year's World Champs. My goals are the same as my team's goals. If we stay in the top division it will be a successfull tournament. If not, it will be a dissapointment. I know it will be very hard, but my goals are always high.

David: I wish we stay away from the relegation group for the first time in Slovenian history.

From the things that you have achieved in hockey, what are you the most proud of?

Marcel: I am really glad I got a chance to play junior hockey in Canada. I had such an awesome time there. I am also happy and feel fortunate for every season and place where I had played. I've had some hockey success, like the WC in Sweden, where I scored in every game I played in, but I would have to say that my bigest achivement is being selected as the national team captain. Not the fact that I got to wear the C on my jersey, but the fact that I was the person who represented the guys as a group. The players on the team gave me a reason to believe that I was the right guy to lead them. They gave me the respect and they belived in me. No matter what I go on to achieve in the future, this will be my biggest achievement.

David: Overall, I am proud that I succeeded as a hockey player.

Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions and good luck in the final phase of the hockey season (the real hockey season) and of course may the injuries not trouble you so that we can see you in Bratislava at the World Championship.