The Omicron variant has been derailing a lot of things in recent life, from restaurants to social events, and the hockey world is no exception. Talk to John Mysak.
Canadians’ chances reach World Junior Championships in expected role: Captain of the Czech Republic. He finally took the time to play two games before the tournament was canceled due to squabbles between the teams.
Mysak is scheduled to board a flight Friday morning to reunite with his junior club Hamilton Bulldogs. But their game scheduled for Friday night was canceled due to COVID-19 cases in Barry Colts.
It has their own challenges, not to forget the Hobbes – all 12 players on the team are registered with a protocol that controls COVID-19. Since CH also had a lot of injuries, Mysak was technically unable to play two attackers! Only Com Hillis (Reserve Squad) and Jean-Sebastian Dee (Laval) were healthy forwards in the organization, with the NHL deal, not playing against the Hurricanes on Thursday night.
So, did he start looking at his phone in fear, hoping that reminders were too unlikely?
“No, I’m not really thinking about it, and I do not think they will call me back,” Mysak said honestly in a telephone interview. “I think they are right.
“But I watch Canadian games on television with my friends. I’m closely watching the guys who played with the racquet last year. In the last game, Rafael Harvey-Pinard scored his first goal and I was really happy for him! He is a great man and a great companion. ”
Disappointment to others
Mysak from Edmonton is talking to us this Thursday afternoon, looking forward to his flight the next day.
The Canadians’ second-round pick in 2020 is real: he never expected to be in Alberta until the end of the World Junior Championships. His team lost 6-3 to Canada, not without a 3-1 lead in the first period. The Czechs then lost 2-1 to Germany, with Misak scoring his only goal of the match.
“I think we can reach the quarterfinals,” he said.
The cancellation of the tournament after just two games left him deeply frustrated, but he knew exactly what was to come. The Czech Republic is one of the few countries in the world with at least one positive case; His match against Finland was canceled a few hours before the tournament.
“I always get up early on match days. I got up early for our duel with Finland. At 6 a.m., we received a message warning that the team had a positive test and that the game had been canceled. I thought it was out of my control, but I’m going to prepare for the next day against Austria. After lunch, we were called to an emergency meeting. Our general manager said the tournament was over. It was disappointing for everyone. It was completely silent, no one spoke. ”
Mysak was disappointed, but more so to his teammates as he was in his third world juniors. He lived behind closed doors for the 2021 edition, but most of all, lived in his home in the Czech Republic, 2020.
“Honestly, I was very lucky to experience the tournament at home,” Forward said. The arena was packed, with 12,000 spectators. It was a great experience. Last year, we played in front of empty stands. I’m worried about those who do not have the opportunity to play in front of the crowd. It’s so beautiful, it’s so different. ”
Uncertain continuation
Theoretically, the Mysak season would continue in the Ontario Junior League (OHL). Currently, the circuit is operating, but note that its Quebec equivalent – QMJHL – has been suspended until mid – January.
Mysak and the Bulldogs want to make some progress in the playoffs. They are fifth in the OHL (out of 20 teams) with a record of .643 (16-8-4).
As with the Czechs, Assistant Captain Colton is the Commissar on the Mysak Bulldogs Leadership Group. The young man spoke enough English, but he hesitated a few times. Now that he has experience working as a captain with his compatriots, he sees the difference between leadership in his mother tongue and his second language.
“Culture and psychology are different in Canada, even the language. It is very easy for me to talk to my Czech colleagues because I know where they came from, where they are, I know their culture. No matter, I’m trying to stay in Hamilton myself. This is the best way to be a leader. ”
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