Dear sports friends, fans of HC Kosice, please, find the answers of Rastislav Rusic, HC Kosice's Executive Director, to the questions you have been sending to us over the last few days. We post your questions without any grammatical and language adjustments, that's how we got them from you to maintain authenticity. This also applies to the names/nicknames. We believe that you will find answers to everything you care about at this moment. Thank you for your interest and we look forward to further meetings and communication!

 

Rastislav Rusic: I wish all of you a good day. I'm glad you took the opportunity to ask about our club's events and I believe that this section will become a tradition.

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romantomcik: Hello, I want to ask whether you haven’t think, as in Zilina, about publishing the wages of players? Thank you for your response.

RR: Discussions on the topic were held also at the level of all extra-league clubs. However, there is currently no will to publish the wages.

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lukas.katrenic: Hi, the interest of audience has slightly increased compared to the last year, but it's still not enough for Kosice, I think.

1. Don’t you plan to decrease the price of the tickets (at least for the upper floors) or maybe distribute them among the people through some kind of competition?
2. Maybe such a proposal of bulk discounts bought by a bigger group of people? (E.g., 10 tickets - a discount of 10%; 20 tickets - a discount of 20%); I believe you will loose nothing by doing it as you sell the tickets, and both, you and the fans can profit of it.
3. It may not be bad to provide the drink-tapping equipment also in the upper floors. At least one per Blocks A and B.

RR: The current price list offers family tickets and we are also active in ticket competitions, whether through our media partners or directly through our social channels. Of course, there is still room for improvement in this area and we are already discussing the system for the next season. In particular, we want to focus on the seasonal or multi-match tickets.

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lenka.lengyelova79: Hello! I want to ask you whether you think it was a good idea to give players the fines, as we scored the 2nd in the table, wasn’t there any other possible solution? Don’t you think of some new recruits in the team? What are you capable of doing, as the management of HC Kosice, to attract even more people to the hockey? Thank you in advance for your answer!!!!!!

RR: In any decision you make, you have to believe that there will be an improvement. In this case, it was not about a position in the table. Today's team has strength and our trust; we do not plan to interfere with it. If we avoid injury, we believe in their strength to escalate. You have sure noticed the changes, whether in a form of a new website, we are working on a new mobile app, we have a new fan shop with a new range, refreshment options during the game directly on the tribune, open communication, and many other news. I believe the Kosicers still love hockey and tribunes will again be full in a relatively short time so that we all express the unity and our support for our hockey players whatever the name of their competitor is.

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lubfito: Hello, I would like to ask whether, in the future, you plan to appeal to the management of clubs through the Pro-Hockey to reveal secrets regarding budgets and salaries of hockey players. I think the society is already in the stage, when the people will not be envious of their wages.

RR: I do not exclude that we will be the initiators of this change in the future, too. Today, however, there are several more serious problems in the Slovak hockey where we want to become the leaders of changes.

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ingrid.imrickova64: Does the wage of 61 Pacan corresponds to the combat productivity..?

RR: David has, besides collecting individual points, also other tasks in the team. Even in his case, we believe that his form will rise before the play-offs.

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petkopether: Dear Mr Rusic. I have several questions for you. The first is whether you want to recruit at least 4 legionnaires from overseas and fire the players like Suja, Bicek, Matejka. These players are playing nothing for about two seasons, and I think they should no longer work with us, as they have no results. The next question is whether the current coach, Mr. Jancuska, will keep coaching? The fine has not been a solution; since the beginning of the season, he has not achieved anything, there was no “string of the won matches” and the results are appalling. With such competitors, like Detva, Liptovsky Mikulas or Zamky, we have to win with at least a 5-goal difference and not loose. We need a young coach or a foreign one, who will bring a quality game here. If we want to get a title, it's necessary to change it. My next question is, don’t you ever try to arrange a test or “friendly” match with Slovan Bratislava? People would be glad to see the biggest derby in Slovakia in hockey. And the last question. If you could affect it, would you not want to rename the club to VSZ Kosice and restore the orange-black colors? That's the one thing we, the Kosice fans, miss the most. Thank you for reading and replying and I wish you many successful seasons in Kosice.

RR: We do not expect any pure-overseas players in this season anymore, especially due to the length of acclimatization to another hockey style. I have mentioned it several times in other forums that I do not like a cowboy style in Slovakia. If we really want to make a change in Slovakia, we cannot still change the coaches or players all the time, we have to start working conceptually. We must respect every member of our highest league, but with the strength of our team, I agree with your opinion. As for the big derby, we are working to play on a good tournament before the start of the next season, or to play a “bigger” match. To make it a little bit lighter, if there will be the average visit rate of more than 7,000 of paid viewers by the end of the season, so I promise you here that I will personally engage in more orange, if it is going to be a general requirement ;-). Thank you for your support!

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tokarcikdaniel: Hello Mr. Rusic. First of all, I would like to highlight this opportunity to put a question to the General Manager of the club. I would like to ask how you think the foreign players have acclimatized here, and whether you consider them to be a benefit compared to the original concept (SR + CR). Is the management going to react to the situation regarding the injured players by engaging new recruits? Thank you

RR: With the increasing number of matches, boys are more relaxed, they know that as “foreign” ones, they have to make a difference. But, the difference compared to the past is that they still have the ambition to move further, what their young age still allows, they are not the players with performance “behind the zenith”. I believe that the injuries will avoid us; otherwise we will have to think about other recruits.

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b.knazovicky: Is a change of jersey color to orange-black not planned?

RR: At this time, no.

kosican85: Hello Mr. Rusic. If it OK with you, I have two questions - 1. Do you plan any more recruits in the near future or before the start of the playoffs? 2. Are we going to play a match in retro dresses in this season? Thank you for the answers.

RR: The plan was to play the season with the existing team. We still have enough matches by the playoffs, and we will certainly respond as needed whether in view of the performance or health of the players. In this season, we are going to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the 2nd federal title, so we will definitely think of something.

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sedlak.lu: Hello Mr. Rusic, I'm quite satisfied with the results of Kosice, but I am interested in the fact what is the role of David Pacan in the team; he is a good player but he cannot prove it, because he has other tasks, or am I wrong? Thank you

RR: Thank you. David is a quality center with a good peripheral vision. It is already on the coaches to make the most of his qualities.

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hoholko.radoslav: Dear Mr. Rusic. Congratulations to you as General Manager of the most successful hockey club in Slovakia. Over three decades, we have been dressed in the orange-white-black colors that have been changed with the arrival of the USS to blue-white. Please, tell us, will a Kosice fan live to see a return of the loved colors in more than only one match per season? Today's time is full of compromises. Is it not the time for that orange-blue one? Thank you very much for the answer and I wish success.

RR: Thank you. The topic of the club color change is not currently on the table. But I agree, the space to play some matches in retro colors is a good idea, but it would be better to combine it with a higher mission. By that I think that the jerseys would be auctioned and the money would go either to support our youth or to another charity thing.

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kiss.sasa: Hello, don’t you consider strengthening the team, at  least per one defensive and offensive player from abroad, as D. Pacan seems so far as an idle type and the defense has literally burned out in recent games. Actually, I would like to see players-fighters with the hearts, with the hockey thinking and the types in the offence that will not stagger at side boards, but will move to the goal. Thanks and good luck! Alex

RR: Our team is sufficiently wide; of course, if the unsatisfactory performance or a higher number of injured players would require it, we will discuss the addition of the team. And I agree, every player who is dressed in the Kosice dress must give the whole heart on ice!

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marek.bernat.bernat: Hello. Can I be punished for throwing a hat on the ice during a hat-trick? Eventually is the hat going to be returned?

RR: I think such a thing would be tolerated, but I do not know how it could find its way back to you if there would be more of you;-)

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DavidEduardMata: Is the Club satisfied with results of HC KOSICE? We, the fans are not... and, therefore, we would like to know whether any offensive reinforcement will come?

RR: The Club expressed its dissatisfaction mainly with performances outside the home stadium. But we have to be patient about individuals; they pass to a different style of hockey, and it is essential for their performance to escalate at the right time. However, if we look at the current season, we played good matches with a number of favorites; we scored the second, which is a great starting position for the next matches.

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gabriels565: Hello. What do you plan to do if nothing will change despite of the penalty imposed for inconvincible performances (See matches with Zvolen and Detva)? For years, Kosice has not been playing such a hockey that it was known for. I do not go there anymore, because every time I came, we lost.

RR: I believe it will change. Maybe more than the results, it is essential for the boys to fight for the Club, the city, the fans, and especially for one another; it was so in the Liptovsky Mikulas. In this season, we have not lost at home in the right playing time yet, so you have not been to hockey probably for a long time, and I'm sorry for it. Boys need your support as well; if 7,000 people get together on the tribune in every match, then I guarantee to you that the boys will make hell on the ice.

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samuel.kakalejcik: Are you satisfied with the popularity of hockey in Kosice and if not, what will you do to bring more crowds to the tribunes?

RR: I'm a maximalist, so no. Over the last couple of months, we've been trying to open to the public as much as we could; we will continue to work on promoting our Club. However, everyone has to have patriotism in him-/herself and I believe that the Kosicers are the patriots and it is only a matter of time, when they find their way to the stadium, no matter who we will play against. And if everyone will wear the Club colors, then I'll say to myself that I'm happy.

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Ges: Is there a plan to strengthen the team in the offensive prior to the playoffs? Where is he possibly searching for reinforcements? Is it overseas?

RR: It's still very premature to talk about it; the play-off is still far away. I believe that we will no longer encounter any injuries; the offensive formations will become stabilized and will multiply their strength, which is unambiguously already in this team. However, if circumstances arise, for which we will be forced to replenish, it will be rather from the familiar “waters”; after all, the player who comes from "overseas" needs a longer time to acclimate.

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adyk62120: Will some reinforcements arrive in the near future?

RR: Strengthening or replenishing the team is not a major topic. So far, we have been observing mainly the collective move and strength in order to more accurately assess the potential of the team, leadership, and mutual interactions in various situations, particularly those critical.

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oliver.koscelansky04: Hello, I would like to ask whether you plan to reinforce the team?

RR: If that's what the unsatisfactory performance of the individuals or the state of health would require, then we will definitely deal with it. There is still plenty of time.

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tomanuel279: How satisfied are you with the audience? What do you think would attract them to the stadium regularly, not just to a few selected matches? Would the making of tickets cheaper not be of help? I understand that there is also expenditure, but more people would come this way, or not?

RR: I am happy with the fact that we have managed to stop the falling trend in visits and today, it is higher than in the previous season by a couple of hundreds. In today's fast, impersonal, digital age, we miss socialization, personal contact. We must again learn to publicly love our city and Club. There are more than 240,000 potential fans in Kosice, with nearly 30,000 of our followers on the social network. You may agree that we should have every match sold out and that actual support cannot be bought, not even by free tickets.

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ladislavlukac11: HELLO. I want to ask why, if you give a fine to the team, an ordinary fan cannot learn about this fact. As it is normal in the NHL. Just, please, do not say that it is an internal affair. Thank you

RR: It's not about whether or not it is an internal affair. It's about a word of a man; we've agreed to not publish the amount and the word is to be kept, no matter what the "order" is.

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hylak.alexandr: Hello, I would like to ask you whether the return of Jiri Bicek and Riso Jencik to the team is already known.

RR : Not yet. Riso starts with easy ice training; the next days will show the date of his return. Jirko is injured for more than two months from the match in Banska Bystrica; he intensifies his training still more, but in this case, due to the severity and especially the length of the outage, I cannot predict his return.

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robok212: Does the Club's management plan to engage also young talents in A Team, whether from the Kosice’s team or other Slovak teams, and replace some of the expensive players? E.g. a type of a player, such as Holenda is in Trencin, who is a stable player in the 2nd offense, while earning not even 1k €/month. Thank you. I wish you all the best in the new position and success for the entire team. ;)

RR: The current team is one of the youngest in club history in the era of independence. You must have noticed that our youngest are getting much more space and I am glad that they grow with each match. And thank you for your support.

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erikoros77: I would like to ask, why no events take place in the sale of tickets. I personally have no problem paying 5 €, but I see it in terms of attracting more people to the stadium. I think the visit rate could be higher, if e.g. some family tickets would be on sale, but not for 20 Euros, because it is probably a lot for Kosicers. Some vouchers could be distributed in schools, etc. I do not know how your marketing works, but I, as a true fan, would for sure prefer a more crowded stadium than a half-empty one, as we now have.

RR: I would like to have a full stadium; there were a few questions and answers on this topic. The ticket for a 4-member family is worth €14.00; for a 3-member €9.00; you'll definitely pay more for tickets to the cinema at unbeatable operating costs. Frankly, it is definitely better spending time with a family or a bunch of your friends on hockey, where you express and accept emotions. And the fact that you subconsciously shape the love for sports is a healthy bonus.

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Galises: Progress is visible; thumbs up, I want to ask whether it could be possible to add at least one person to each booth; the service just does not keep pace, it is slow, thank you

RR: Thank you for your support. The Club is in rent in Steel Arena, so buffet services are provided by the Arena sub-contractually. We put pressure on the service quality and we will continue to do so, but we do not know how to influence it directly.

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mathus7: Hello, I want to ask whether you plan to reinforce the team, or complete it in the future by players with representative experience. Thanks

RR: If that's what the unsatisfactory performance of the individuals or the state of health demands, then we will definitely deal with it.

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svedomitesvedomie: Why, in the current season, no junior has received any significant chance, when you are dissatisfied with the performances of "A" Team players, what they also got a fine for? Do not you think it would be better to show them that their engagement is not definite by replacing them with anyone from juniors, thereby creating healthy competition, which could have a positive impact on both, the player, who would have to do more, and the junior, who would obtain experience and the positive impulse to the next work? Thank you for your answers.

RR: If we do not count six 30-year olds, the average age of the team is 25 years. The average age of one, regularly formed offense is 21.5 years. Besides, Filip Hudak, who is a junior team player, played in the match in Zvolen. I think that, after the past seasons, the "youth" gets enough space. Rejuvenation must go through successive steps, but we are on the right track.

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jabo1: I want to ask, when the hockey, and not the theater, is going to be finally played, or give free entrance, but nobody comes even then; I am a fan of hockey long enough, but what's is done now, for the last two years, it's terrible

RR: Whatever you are doing, there will be two opposing views on the result. I believe the number of fans will accrue also on the tribunes and we will hear them enough. I will be glad when you will be among them.

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dbata71: Are you planning to reinforce during the next representation stop? Whether in the defense, or in the attack. Can we expect the arrival of a new player, eventually more? Thank you for your response

RR: If that's what the unsatisfactory performance of the individuals or the state of health demands, then we will definitely deal with it.

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andreas2012: Hi ... what is with Jencik and Bicek? ... thanks

RR: Riso starts with light training on ice; the next days will show the date of his return. Jirko is injured more than 2 months from the match in Banska Bystrica, but he still intensifies his training, but in this case, due to the severity and especially the length of his outage, I cannot predict his return.

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Boriskuznar: 1. I want to ask why the nicks were not unblocked on the HC Kosice FB site, which were blocked last season. 2. Will there be any strengthening of the team before the end of the transfer period? According to the game I see, Pacan misses somebody, who would understand his style of play; the same is true for Laco Nagy / In the last season, he and Miklik were fantastic  together/. They certainly do not play 100%.

RR: We've unblocked everything yet before the season. If any nicks remained blocked, let us know a specific example. The answer to any changes to the team you have definitely found above.

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Koncek: There are always turnstile breakdowns (Entrance B). Even now, at low visits, entrance to the arena is problematic. Do you plan to do something about it? I do not like the way of selling the season tickets for the playoffs. Fans are standing in front of cash registers in winter, wind, and frost, sometimes even for an hour, as homeless persons. Do you change it?

RR: We register the problems with entrance to the stadium and deal with a supplier, which is Ticketportal. For sure, the way to improve it is to buy a ticket at home; we also have a nice video to it with Tomas Hricin. In terms of season tickets, we will look at recharging them prior to the play-offs. Thank you for your suggestion.

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burcsak.otto: Hello Mr. Director, I only have one question, i.e. can you get Gabo Spilar back to our team

RR: We certainly know about Gabo, but so far my above answers to the team-related questions apply.

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martinhezsely: Hello, when you assumed the new position, you have declared that marketing and communication towards the fans will also change rapidly. Although the HC web site has been refreshed, the quantity and quality of articles/news has remained unchanged. What is necessary for the site (fbk profile) to gain more interesting interviews with players, coaches, and maybe with custodians... photo galleries also from trainings...

RR: I believe the communication has changed and it is visible. We continue to work on bringing interesting topics, including interviews. Of course, we will be grateful for the incentives.

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rado21: Hello Mr. Rusic. Our biggest competitor has been staggering in the KHL for years. What vision the Kosice ice hockey has? Is the Slovak Tipsport League the right competition, or do we continue with the shy squinting at the Czech extra league? Or event at the Ebel? Thank you for your answer and I keep finger crossed for you.

RR: Of course, our goal is not to stagger. In the past, I have captured various alternatives. We are now a solid part of the Slovak league. I do not want to speculate now, it would not be fair, we want to finish the season, we will see how it will evolve with the competitor you mentioned, we will evaluate the plus and minus and discuss the future.

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Dusan z Kysuc: Mr. Rusic. How satisfied are you with the performance of the team? and do you plan to strengthen the team?

RR: The team has been discussed several time, and my satisfaction probably too. I was not happy with the games on the ices of the competitors, but I am definitely happy with the scoring, the match against the favorite competition at home, and especially the potential of the team.

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milos.stroncek1979: Why don’t you call Gabi Spilar back? We urgently need a shooter. Thank you.

RR: We certainly know about Gabo, but so far my above answers to the team-related questions apply.

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luko.richard: Hello, Mr. Rusic, I would like to ask you whether or not you are going to make available to the public the Hall of Fame of hockey (even for a fee) and also if there are no plans for a farewell match for P. Bartos, who would deserve it in my opinion. Thank you in advance for the answers and I wish you success in your work.

RR: Thank you for your support. The ceremony dedicated to Peter Bartos is in the process; you will soon learn the date. We certainly plan to make the Hall of Fame available to the public but, today, I am not satisfied with its level, I do not think it is enough, I would call it representative.

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Godoy: Quo vadis hockey in Kosice? Lively and directly on the Slovak track or you squint at overseas? We have a good example here with Good Angels as how to represent on the international scene, one big, cosmopolitan city full of foreigners, when a domestic competition is worth nothing. Will we move to a higher level or continue to visit Detva, Nove Zamky etc. Thank you for your reply.

RR: Good question, I answered the similar one above. As a fan and personal observer of the federal league, I can fly away in my thoughts but, today, we are part of the Slovak league and, therefore, I do not want to speculate what will be in 2-3 years. Our priority today is to have a "full house" seeing our team no matter which league we play; then, we say that we have a "mandate" to fight for better matches as a reward for loyalty and devotion.

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barkly87: Hello, I would like to ask you whether or not you plan to use the cube for the viewer. Such as in controversial situations; yes, I know it's not allowed, but Kosice is probably the only Club that probably sticks to it, because sometimes I go to encourage our boys out and this technology is being used normally. I miss more repetitions on the cube, not only the controversial situations, but also the goal opportunities, I do not need to look at the cube and see, in the interruptions of the game, how the players alternate what I can see also from the tribune. I expected a slightly better direction. There are plenty of moments, interventions, or chances that a man would like to see repeatedly. Also, in controversial situations, I think that the viewers in Kosice are already sufficiently cultured and I think that it would not be a problem to keep an eye on them thanks to the modern technologies, CCTVs. And also, whether you do open this topic in PRO hockey to officially permit it; we are not some village club, we have some word there, I think if you would offer good arguments, if only for the convenience of viewers, YOUR viewers, it could be worth doing it.

RR: I agree with you. I hate buck-passing and the established rules. Each of us with the right to decide must learn to take responsibility for it. The fact that we do not repeat the disputed situations can lead to doubts and there have been enough of them already in Slovak hockey. I have already opened the topic. As far as the use of the cube is concerned, I will shift your interesting suggestion to the responsible person.

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stevo362: Hello. How satisfied are you with the performance of D. Pacan? And the second question. Are you also watching your youth? Do you think it can be said that there is some more significant talent in their ranks? Thank you and I wish everything good☺

RR: David is a great center with a perfect view of space, but he has not revealed all the cards yet. Of course, I am still watching young people and they will get attention more and more. It's a long way, but we have the intention for our pupils to occupy the best leagues and, of course, form the basis of our A Team. And we certainly have talents, I will not name them, but they still have a long way to go.

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stevenreklama: Hello. I would like to ask whether you plan any kind of farewell match for Peter Bartos? Thank you. I wish you a lot of success with Kosice hockey.

RR: Thank you for your support. The date of ceremony with Peter Bartos will be announced soon.

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Alexsvetlak: Hello, what kind of secondary school have you studied? What is your job content?

RR: I am a graduate of the metallurgical secondary school and Metallurgical Faculty. If you look at our Club with the optics of a company, my main focus is to manage it so that it be healthy and stable, both in sporting and financial terms.

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Andrewammorris: As our defense is very weak, why did not you sign a new contract with Radek Dejl?

RR: I was not here at the time when the last season contracts with the players expired or have not been prolonged; therefore, I would prefer not arguing about the reasons.

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Jencikmar: I wonder if HC Kosice does not prepare any Club logo updates after many years, just like other Slovak clubs did before this season. Personally, I would appreciate a logo based on the Club's tradition, which would include a Club mascot, a crow.

RR: We're working on some changes, but these do not include the logos.

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luky244: Hello, first of all, I want to say that I appreciate the various changes that have occurred since last season, or after many years, thanks to the new leadership. That is why we do not have longer to deal with basic-fundamental issues, but I want to ask about something that does not seem to play such an important role. Haven’t you think about the new coach wear? Get them suits, as is the standard in the NHL, KHL or as it could be seen already in Banska Bystrica, or in this season in Dukla Trencin. Those “nylons” of us used for many years do not make the best impression and do not look professionally during matches. In my opinion, they are no longer worthy of league matches; I rather prefer them in training. A suit or at least a jacket with a Club logo or badge would be very nice; it would raise the level and seriousness of the implementation team during the league match on the team bench. And it could be inspiring for other clubs to continue with this trend, too. Thank you for your response and wish you success in the Club, a lot of creative ideas to attract many spectators to the Steel so that we can experience the amazing atmosphere in the regularly crowded arena.

RR: Thank you for your support. Good point and I agree. But it is very cold in many stadiums, I'm afraid we would still have them sickness absent :). But we will think about it in the play-offs.

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Jaroindi: Getting more HC Kosice fans to the matches, for example by selling them tickets to matches per €1.00 to the name upon a citizen's ID card to avoid any misuse, and go to high schools and sell tickets there for the match.

RR: We have started to cooperate with the City Hall and Primary Schools; they have a whole sector dedicated. We have also reserved a sector for ice hockey youth. We are working to make a full house once a standard.

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peter.veliky: Hello, I would like to ask how the Canadian PACAN was bought ... on whose recommendation; how the HC Kosice scouting works ... I do not want to criticize this player, but his style of play is rather European (as if he were from the Czech league) ... I know that, in basketball, Mr. Jendrichovsky is able to attract the future big stars to Kosice.... thank you

RR: Hello, Peter, David is the in Europe for the first time. In principle, he came to the agent's recommendation. This was preceded by a requirement for a quality center with the right stick holding. From the available offers, i.e. from our league and the offers of various agents, David came out as the right choice. His relatively low age and motivation to move on to a better league also spoke for it. I believe that, in the future, we will be able to draw from our or "East Slovak" hatchery.

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Rajchler: Hello. Are you satisfied with the playing performance of the team? If not, what do you want to do with it?

RR: We were not satisfied with the performance on the rivals' courts. We have made some decisions; now we have to be patient and let the team work.

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Thomi: Hello. I think this is really a nice step and, again, a step forward in marketing. Question: I wonder what is the financial status of the Club? Have the fans of our hockey to worry about the hockey future in case of departure of the USS? I understand this is not an easy question, but I think a lot of fans would like to know it. Thank you and I wish you success!

RR: Thank you. Thanks to all our partners and supporters, our Club has been a leader in the Slovak ice hockey map. USS is a reliable and responsible partner; I do not know if they are about to leave or not, but do not worry about the hockey future.