Denies back in Orebro
Robin Kovacs, 26, was about to give up on Tre Kronor’s dream.
He considered representing Hungary instead, but chose to wait one more season. On Thursday, the long-awaited debut came.
– That was nice. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time, says the former Orebro striker.
The 26-year-old Ruben Kovacs, who has won the inside points for Örebro in the past two seasons, didn’t stand a chance at Tre Kronor during Johan Garbinlov’s tenure as national team captain.
The silence of the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation over the past six seasons made Kovacs, who has a Hungarian father, consider playing for Hungary instead.
But with Sam Hallam as the new captain of the national team, Kovacs, who now plays for Swiss side Lausanne, wanted to wait another season.
– exactly. That was the idea. If I didn’t get the chance this year, I probably would have changed countries and played Hungary. But now I had the chance and I chose to take it, says Kovacs after the debut that ended in a 3-2 extra-time victory over Switzerland at the Swiss Hockey Games.
– I waited a year or so and thought you played well. It’s nice to be able to debut, now it’s just a matter of looking ahead and making it even better.
Happy with the debut – despite missing the penalty
You missed a penalty, maybe it was less important on a day like this?
– Yes, but of course you always want to score. It was a very bad penalty on my part. There are some details you could do better with, but overall I think we make a good match.
Your first impression of Sam Hallam as a coach?
– Good, I met him many times when he trained Vecchu. He’s a good coach and I had the same impression I had at the time. Nothing has changed.
Ruben Kovacs leads Lausanne in second place in indoor scoring with 23 points (12+11) in his first 29 games. If Kovacs continues at the same pace, he scores 42 points, which in such cases is the best record of his career.
– The first time was fantastically great, we had a great time as a family. I entered the league very well and gained a lot of confidence from day one. I really delivered from day one too, it’s not always easy to perform from the start as an import in this league. But I think I did.
About journalism: “I knew it from day one”
Are there additional pressures to deliver as an import there?
– That’s absolutely true. If you look at all the teams in general, the Importers are the ones who should and should be moving the team forward. I knew it from day one and wanted to get it right.
How is hockey different compared to SHL?
– There is more to the game of hockey in the house. You may get more jobs here. At home, many teams play exactly the same thing, you lie and wait for the team to make a mistake.
And the national team’s long-term goal this season is to play in the WC?
– I live here and now I’m trying to do the best I can during the week I’m here. After that, it’s a matter of going back to Lausanne and playing better, then we’ll see where it goes. I wouldn’t charge anything up front or think of anything else.
Denies back in Orebro
Earlier on Thursday, Expressen reported that Ruben Kovacs will temporarily return to Örebro. According to the information, he will be loaned out to the club during the days between playing the Spengler Cup Classic in Davos, Switzerland.
Something Kovacs now denies.
– this is not true. Kovacs says I’m not going there, adding:
– There was a discussion about it. But Lausanne won’t let me go.