Dominik Vaniak: “I’m glad they went in for me at the important moments and that I helped the team get 2 points.”

The Player of Round 7 in RAHL 1 is Dominik Vaniak of the Uličníci team. In the game against a strong opponent, Black Jokers, he shone with two goals and an assist, playing a major part in his team’s valuable win. Uličníci managed to turn around a 0:2 deficit and pick up two important points. In the interview Dominik assessed his own performance and the team’s, and revealed what he thinks was behind the weaker start to the season and what the ambitions are for the games ahead.

1. You recorded 2 goals and an assist against Black Jokers. How would you rate your performance in this game?

Dominik: “I felt fine, and I’m glad they went in for me at the important moments and that I helped the team get 2 points, even though there were situations in the game I could have handled differently.”

2. Black Jokers were the big favorite in this game. How does this hard-fought win taste?

Dominik: “It tastes great, of course, and we value it all the more because we turned it around from 0:2 for the Jokers after their quick goals early in the game. But once again I have to praise the team for its fight, its unity and its determination to win the game.”

3. The start of the season didn’t go the way you had imagined. What do you see as the reason for the poor start?

Dominik: “I see the main reason in the guys’ attendance, since they had work, family or personal matters that they put ahead of the game. Our weaker scoring also played a part, and many times at the turning points bad luck was on our side.”

4. For now your team is in the playoff zone. Does it have a chance of staying there?

Dominik: “To be honest, after the end of last season our ambition was to be in the top 3 of the standings at the end of the regular season. If the guys show up to games faithfully and work as hard in them as in this last one, I’m not worried about staying in the playoff zone, and I’d like to get closer to where we originally pictured ourselves finishing.”

Dominik Vaniak confirmed that he is one of the pillars of Uličníci; with his performance and fight he helped the team beat the favorite and gain confidence after a tough start to the season. The win over Black Jokers could be a turning point for Uličníci, one that kick-starts them toward more consistent performances and a return to the battle for the higher spots. If the team keeps up the commitment and the attendance that Dominik is counting on, the playoffs should not be a question but a matter of course.

The Player of the Round gets a €20 voucher from our partner WILD THING and also a voucher from partner LMTAuto.sk, who will take professional care of your car. From league partner Diamant Sóda he receives a drinks voucher worth €30