Read an imaginary interview with a famous Slovenian hockey player and write a summary of the sportsman’s answers. If you need help, click HINT.
Anže Kopitar is a professional ice hockey player of the Los Angeles Kings. We are lucky and honoured to have Kopitar in our studio today. He is going to tell us about himself and his career. Hello Anze and welcome to our talk show.
Hello and thank you for inviting me to your show.
Anze, you have been playing for Los Angeles Kings since 2006 but LA is not your hometown. Where are you from?
I am from Slovenia, a small country on the sunny side of the Alps.
Who taught you how to skate?
My father built an ice rink in our backyard, and there he taught me how to skate. The ice rink was the place where I spent most of my time during winter with my brother.
Where did you start playing ice hockey?
I started playing junior hockey when I was in primary school. I joined my hometown hockey team Acroni Jesenice.
When did you decide to move to Sweden?
At the age of 16 I was offered a chance to play in a Swedish junior team of Södertälje SK, and I thought that was a unique opportunity. I remember it was hard because I missed my family, but I knew I had to take that step if I wanted to get better in hockey. I have no regret, though. It obviously paid off. I played in tough competitions for their junior team and led the league in scoring 49 points in 30 games.
Why was the year 2005 so important to you?
2005 was a good year for me. I was ranked the top European skater by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. In the same year I signed an entry level contact with the Kings.
So how come that you didn’t start playing for the Kings in 2005?
I had to go back to Sweden and played there for another season. I accepted an invitation to the Los Angeles Kings’ rookie camp a year later.
What was your first NHL debut?
It was a match against Anaheim Ducks and I scored two goals in the game.
In the 2011-12 season you won the Stanley Cup with the Kings. That was the greatest season for the team, wasn’t it?
Well, this year was fantastic too, because we have won the Stanley Cup again, but I guess the year 2012 was more important for the Kings, because I and my teammates won our first trophy in the history of the team, beating the New Jersey Devils with the final score being 4:2. My dream came true.
What does family mean to you?
Family means a lot to me. They are all very supportive. I am more relaxed when my family is around so they moved with me to Hollywood when I started playing for the Kings. We all live under the same roof and it’s been working for us.
You are a role model and inspiration to many young sportsmen. What is your advice to them?
You need to be strong, persistent, dedicated to the sport, and have a sense of teamwork.
Thank you very much Anze for coming in to our studio.
Not at all.