Welcome, I'm Matt, and I will be conducting interviews with the S60 SMJHL Draft Class. With S60 being one of the bigger draft classes, I hope to do lots of interviews with the draftees. I hope you enjoy this series.
 

 
Matt: In this interview, we have Petr Svoboda (@artermis). So Petr, tell us a bit about yourself
 
Petr: Hello, I am Petr Svoboda. I am Czech. I play for the Cze- I mean I play for the Kelowna Knights. I swam, I mean I flew over to America after draft to play hockey and there is nothing suspicious about me.
 
Matt: Where did you first learn about hockey?
 
Petr: In Czechia, hockey is very big and very important. I found out about hockey three day- I mean three years ago, yes this is when I learned about hockey, when I was small child three years ago.
 
Matt: …You were a small child three years ago?
 
Petr: Yes. Petr had optimal gestation process
 
Matt: What got you interested in hockey?
 
Petr: It is my purpose to play hockey and play for the Czech National Team. Glory to Czechia! Czechia is Bestia! Pravada vítězí!
 
Matt: How much different is it in Czechia, the Czech Republic, than over in Canada?
 
Petr: Czechia is normal and great country, the best country. The Government and State Security are never wrong. Czechs love hockey very much like Canada except Czechia is better. That is main difference.
 
Matt: What emotions, if any, did you have before being called up by Kelowna?
 
Petr: It is the first step in my great journey. The second I arrived in America, I began the search for hockey. I approached three teams and Kelowna was the best team for me to showcase Czech hockey in the SMJHL. I will gladly play alongside my brother-in-arms, Tomas Zadina and Sean Stevenson, and I look forward to a season to be proud of.
 
Matt: And with that, let’s take a bit of a break. Pulls out a plate of Vepřo Knedlo Zelo and Bramboráky.
 
Petr: Perfect, these look delicious. This is much better than home cooking; mother and father kept us on a strict diet of high nutrients.
 
Matt: I mean this is technically home cooking. I made them myself.
 
Petr: I am very much liking your home then. Stuffs another large forkful in to mouth
 
Matt: Well too bad I happen to live in another country.
 
Petr: Not everyone can be Czech. This is the sad reality. We are the chosen few, I believe is the saying. It’s a shame you were not chosen, as this food is great. About to eat another mouthful, but a man in a suit comes over, taps shoulder, and whispers in ear. Food is too good though, mother and father say I cannot have more because I am on diet. Is visibly dejected.
 
Matt: Nods. I guess we can continue then. So, what are some of your goals in this first season or two?
 
Petr: My purpose is to win gold for Czech National Team… oh and also play for the Kelowna Knights. I wish to score many goals and win. Also winning gold with Czech Junior Team will be considered acceptable as well.
 
Matt: And where do you see yourself in four or five seasons from now? Still with Kelowna perhaps, or maybe in the SHL?
 
Petr: In four seasons my junior career will be over and I will be able to show Czech hockey dominance in the SHL. Pravada vítězí! I will be on a team that showcases my talents and the talents of the Czech Nation well and it will be good.
 
Matt: So as you may recall, I had interviewed a teammate of yours: Leon. What are your thoughts on the defender?
 
Petr: He is not Czech, but he is my teammate. I respect him and I expect him to play well to help me glorify Czech hockey while he is my teammate.
 
Matt: If you weren’t able to play hockey, what other competitive sport would you have played instead?
 
Petr: My purpose is to play hockey. Without hockey I have no reason to exist.
 
Matt: That’s about all the time we have. One more question though: If you could give any advice to future SMJHL players, what advice would you give?
 
Petr: I offer advice to my Czech brothers: play well, play with honour, and play for the Nation, for we are all with you.
 
Matt: And what about for the non Czechs?
 
Petr: They’d best stand with us, as it is better than the alternative.
 
Matt: Is there anything else you’d like to share? Any comments or questions?
 
Petr: Just that I hope the Czechs in the league have good seasons, do very well, and make us all proud. We will be winning gold soon enough, just you wait.