In the absence of Anže Kopitar, Jan Muršak, playing for the famous CSKA of KHL league, is without any doubt the biggest star of the "Lynxes". Some other important players from the Slovenian national team in Sochi will miss the Championship as well due to success of their clubs, which means even bigger responsibility for the 26-year old hockey player from Pesnica – he is expected to be the most efficient attacker. But in order to fulfil the expectations Muršak has to improve his shooting form, as he is far from satisfied with it.
The right wing attacker talked to MMC about "Lynxes", CSKA team to which he was sold for the new year by Amur Khabarovsk where he started his career in KHL League, about life in Russia, and his great wish to test himself again in NHL League.
Only a month and a half after the great success in Sochi you are back among the "Lynxes". How does it feel to be back in your homeland?
I love coming back to Slovenia. Our team gets along very well indeed. I haven't been home for a long time, although I spent time with my team mates in Sochi. After a while you tend to forget how beautiful Slovenia is.
In previous five years you only played once for the national team (2010 World Championship in Ljubljana), and now this will be your second tournament in a couple of months. A bit unusual, isn't it?
Previously I played in North America, where the season is longer, so I didn't have the opportunity to play for Slovenia more often. Now I play in Europe, in Russia, and it is much easier, as the breaks for national team matches coincide. I have always liked to join the national team, as we get along very well, and I enjoy it.
The training in Tivoli is very hard, and serious, although two weeks are left until the beginning of the World Championship in South Korea.
We didn't come to have fun. We are having a nice time, but on the ice we train seriously, we fight. A number of matches is ahead of us, if we want to return to the elite division. Therefore we take everything very seriously on the ice, and work hard.
How well do you know your opponents at the World Championship of the first division, A group?
Personally I don't know the opponents as well as my team mates who have played against most of them, the last time two years ago at the World Championship in Ljubljana. We mustn't trouble ourselves too much with our opponents, we have to deal with ourselves and play as well as we can, and if we do the return into the elite division won't be a problem. It won't be easy, but the quality of our team exceeds the quality of our opponents – if we play as well as we are capable of.
As Anže Kopitar will be absent, and most likely also some other playmakers, you will be the Slovenian strongest weapon. Do you feel any additional pressure, or responsibility?
No, there is no additional pressure, or bigger responsibility. I always help the team to the best of my ability, but only one player does not make the team. The entire team is important. I will do my best, and if every player shows everything he is capable of, it will bring out the best in others as well.
Would you like to go back to North America, and try again in the NHL?
I would like to test myself again in the NHL. NHL is the best league in the world, the dream of every hockey player. I am really glad I had the opportunity to play there, and I would like to try again if I get the chance. If not it will be just as well. I would prefer to try in a different club. Not that I resent Detroit, but I would have liked more opportunities to prove myself. Well, life doesn't always turn out the way you want.
Do you have any privileges, being a member of CSKA? Do people know you in plain clothes?
There are so many people in Moscow that you can hardly expect anybody to recognize you – unless you are Radulov, or Kovalchuk. I'm not recognized here either (laughter). Well, some people do recognize me, but I have enough peace, and am not harassed as I imagine Anže (Kopitar) and Goran (Dragić) are.
Toni Gruden, MMC
Translated by G. K.
