For the players of hungarian club Debreceni Hoki Klub is this the second season in CJHL, but for their coach it is premiere year. We spoke with György József, DHK coach.

How do you remember your hockey beginnings? Who got you started in hockey and where did you take your first steps in hockey?

I was born on the 5th June 1978 in a small town in Transylvania, in Gheorgheni. I was three years old as my father started to give me ice skating lessons and at 6 years old I started to play ice hockey in the local ice hockey team.

How did your hockey career develop? What do you consider as the greatest success in your playing career?

I played ice hockey in the local team till I was 18 years old. In 1997 I was admitted to the Bucharest Sports Academy and during my studies (1997-2001) I’ve played in the University ice hockey team. After graduation I went home to the mother-association. I played here 5 years (2001-2006) in the senior team. In 2006 I had the opportunity to work in Hungary as an ice hockey coach. Until 2013 I also played ice hockey in the second league.

My greatest success in my playing career:
U18 Romanian Champion
In 2002 2nd place in the Romanian senior Championship
I was a member of the Romanian national team:
1x U18 World Championship 1996
2x U20 World Championship 1997, 1998
2x Senior World Championship in the B League, 2003, 2004
5x Champion in the Hungarian Second League where I was a player-coach.

When did you begin with coaching? Did you plan to become a trainer during your active playing career? Where have you worked as a coach?

It was my childhood dream to become an ice hockey coach. This idea had bothered me the whole time I was playing ice hockey. In 2001, after graduation I returned to my hometown and started to train children. Since 2006 I’ve been working at the Debrecen Ice Hockey Club. Here, at the beginning I was player- coach of the senior team, I also trained 1 or 2 U8 – U20 teams. In 2013-2014 I trained the U16 Hungarian national team.

Do you have a coach-idol? What style of hockey do you prefer as a coach?

Yes, one of my favourite ice hockey coaches is Arno Del Curto, the coach of the Davos playing in the Swiss League. I always teach my children offensive minded ice hockey. Of course, I also consider the defense very important. In defense I pay a lot of attention on discipline, while in offense I let the children be creative. My motto is: You don’t have to be perfect, but you must give a perfect effort on every play.

And the best moment of your coaching career so far?

The best moment of my coaching career:
2005-2006 U14 Romanian Champion
Hungarian Senior Second League 5 times Champion in 2006/7, 2008/9, 2010/11, 211/12, 2012/13
2014/15 U20 third place in Hungarian Championship and in the same year we’re played in Slovak Championship (4th place)
2016/17 U14 Hungarian Championship bronze medal

What would you like to achieve as a coach? Do you have any dreams for your coaching career?

My greatest wish is to teach the children to become a good hockey player, a player of whom I can be proud of and who will maybe sometime play in a very strong league, like NHL or KHL. Another dream of mine is to be a senior team’s coach. I hope that soon I will have the opportunity to work as a senior team coach.

What goals do you have upon entering the Carpathian Junior Hockey League?

Our main goal is to be able to play in this League without acting under a compulsion to win; to be able to play with teams having different team culture, to evaluate ourselves on international level; to develop ourselves and to practice different playing tactics and last but not least to reach a very good result in CJHL in order to promote our Club’s reputation.

Do you think that such an international competition can help young players in their hockey-related growth?

Yes, I am sure that such an international competition can help the children in their hockey related growth. Children learn a lot after every competition. During the competition their whole life is turning around ice hockey. They can also learn a lot by watching the matches of the other teams. Such an international competition helps develop the team’s competitive spirit which by its turn promotes social skills and teach social interaction mainly while playing. Perhaps, it would be helpful to organize some common programs that youth can participate in, and thus they can get the opportunity to get to know each other, or even to make new friends.

SHORT QUESTIONAIRE

The best player ever: Wayne Gretzky
The best active player: Pavel Datsyuk
Your most favourite hockey team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Your most favourite sport (exc. hockey): handball
Your most favourite sportsman: Gianluigi Buffon