Alexander Ftáčnik (Black Jokers): “Ketner and I are like McDavid and Draisaitl... in their sixties.”

In RAHL1, the Player of the Week award goes to Alexander Ftáčnik of Black Jokers. Against Mad Vipers he collected five points (3 goals and 2 assists) and his team recorded a clear 7:1 win. The game was even for a long time, but in the end Jokers broke it open and Vipers failed to convert the chances that could have turned the game around. In the interview Alex explains whom he owes his points to, how goalie Vizzi bailed them out, why they are fine with 3rd place after the regular season and how his chemistry with Nikolas Ketner works.

1.⁠ ⁠A hat trick and two assists on top of it. How do you rate your performance?

Alexander: “I owe the points to the great work of my teammates, who set me up in good shooting positions, and we also managed to come up with a few nice passing plays. Together with other teammates from Jokers, we diligently fine-tuned our form at the Ružinov pickup games during the week.”

2.⁠ ⁠⁠A comfortable 7:1 win against Mad Vipers – how would you rate your team's performance?

Alexander: “Even though the score doesn't suggest it, the game against Vipers was even for a very long time, and Vizzi saved us many times in net with his super performance. At 2-0 and 3-0 Vipers had several glorious sure-fire chances, which fortunately Vizzi stopped – otherwise the game would have looked completely different.”

3.⁠ ⁠⁠Nothing will change about your position in the standings before the last round. Are you happy with 3rd place in the regular season?

Alexander: “We're happy with where we finished in the standings and we're slowly starting to tune up for the playoffs, since we have only 1 regular-season game left. I congratulate the boys from Petržalka on a deserved first place in the regular season, which they can no longer lose either. They've put together a super team this year and I believe we'll meet again in the playoffs.”

4.⁠ ⁠⁠Statistically, you and your teammate Nikolas Ketner are RAHL's McDavid and Draisaitl. How would you describe playing with Nikolas on the ice?

Alexander: “If McDavid and Draisaitl suited up in their 60s and after a night of partying, we might just about match them for speed. Nikolas and I are a well-drilled duo who can find each other on the ice completely blind by now, as the last goal against Vipers shows.”

Alexander Ftáčnik is not turning it into a one-man show. He says the points are down to his teammates and the plays they were able to set up. He also points to the other side of it: a 7:1 result looks easy, but it was even for a long time and Vipers had sure-fire chances that Vizzi stopped in net. Jokers are happy with 3rd place and are already tuning up for the playoffs. He enjoys playing with Nikolas Ketner – on the ice they can find each other blind.