Valeriy Kniazev is the president of Short hockey Federation in Czech Republic nowadays.
In the past he used to be professional ice hockey player: Valeriy had been playing at the championships in Russia and Czech Republic. He shared with us the development plans of Czech Federation of short hockey, also he told us about his vision of expansion and popularisation of short hockey in the future.
Core: Valeriy, could you tell us, please, how did it happened that you connected your life with short hockey?
V.K.: Sure, with pleasure. My cousin which was also a hockey player in the past have offered me the opportunity in trying short hockey, that was the first time I interacted with the professional sport. For more than a year he is a member of short hockey professional league in Russia.
When I was waiting for offers from my agent concerning my future career, it brought me to Moscow where I was searching for a contract. I was offered to try myself in short hockey. I thought it was a great idea to keep myself in a good shape before the upcoming season and I took the good offer. It happened that I switched my professional sport direction. To be honest, I never thought that I would have to deal with a lot of difficulties and unusual things.
Well known that the game play in a short platform is one of the drill-exercise that everyone had during professional hockey practice. In my opinion, playing short hockey could not give me new professional skills. Though entering a short hockey ice platform make you realise the drive you face is an experience you had never been before. Especially the indescribable feel of speed is at the very high level due to a small rink. To add to mentioned above, it is really a different sport, even though you have skates, stick, puck and net. You must continue on developing new skills and strategy in that field of the game.
Core: From your point of view, which are the main differences between classical ice hockey and short hockey for players?
V.K.: As I already mentioned short hockey is a very fast and dynamic game. To make any decision a player has very limited time, it is in prosper to make the decisions before receiving the puck. A huge value is fast thinking and solid puck control. As the area of game is small, all the ordinary manoeuvres are done in the small area circumstances, and because of that the time of every action is much more limited than in classic hockey game.
Moreover, there are nuances in the rules of the game, for example attacking opponents net is possible only after crossing the zone and having at least a pass. Another difference is having yellow and red cards. It seems unusual at first, although adaptation to the new rules happens to be fast. Fans view short hockey as a dynamic game, with familiar to everyone hockey moves.
Core: Why have you decided to finish your career as a player and begin operate as a staff member of the association?
V.K.: From the early years of my childhood I have skates on me feet. Practices, games, injuries and everything that belongs to sport career was always surrounding me, and once at some point I decided that it would be a great experience and a promising way of self development for me, to try myself in the managing sphere.
After the end of career I haven’t lost desire for hockey, but now I want to make something valuable as a stakeholder. As well my goal and dream is to make the short hockey known worldwide. My plans are simple: to introduce the new sport to as many people possible, after I have found that short hockey is gaining progress throughout the global community and it is in plans to organise international tournaments and continental championship. That was the time I realised I want to be a part of such a tremendous project.
Core: Well, could you as the President of the Czech Short Hockey Association tell us what are the plans considering developing short hockey in Czech Republic?
V.K.: We still have big aims ahead of us. All the local federations are searching for one way which focuses on short hockey development, which will be confirmed by international federation ISHF. We are willing to take part and follow one concept. It is necessary to build it on financial base and methodical platform. This might take considerable amount of time, but we are methodically following our development strategy, which will inevitably lead us to success.
Of course the creation of strong national tournament is inevitable to happen. Obviously we must build national teams for taking part in national tournaments. I am sure we will have no problem with finding players. At the moment, the situation is still such that large amount of Czech skilled players, especially young players with willingness have no possibility to play for a team. Therefore, our priority goal is to enable gifted players to unleash their potential. We are desired to be at the top of the leaders of short hockey worldwide and that is where we are heading!
Core: That is an honourable wish. What is your vision in development of short hockey in the near future in the World?
V.K.: I predict we have good chances in finding our audience which will sustain in growing yearly. Executive committee of the World Federation have particular scheduled plan that is going to help us develop properly for a few years ahead. The plan has to help our sport strengthen itself and step forward toward expansion. The strategy for organising international tournaments is currently being developed, and many hockey related people are willing to participate and to be a part. This fact speaks for itself, that means, we are on the right way.
Now the biggest importance for us is to launch and lead our projects, which are, world championship and also junior U19 and U21 championships. I am sure when our tournaments will appear on the TV and web media spheres, rapid growth of short hockey will be on its own!
Core: Thank you very much for this conversation!
Photos were kindly provided by mr. Valery Knyazev from his personal archive.