Jozef Stumpel is one of the most respected names in the history of Slovak hockey. With a wealth of experience from the NHL, KHL, Olympics and World Champions, Stumpel now plays for HK Nitra, who competed in this season's Champions Hockey League. Although Nitra didn't manage to advance past the group stage, Stumpel enjoyed the experience a lot.

by Tomas Schugerl

BRATISLAVA – The Slovakian Tipsport Liga started a few days ago, and Jozef Stumpel was part of a pre-season press conference with Richard Lintner, the new general manager of highest Slovakian hockey league. The 43-year-old forward was not only talking about HK Nitra's ambitions in the coming season, but was also evaluating his team's showing in the Champions Hockey League's Group D, where Nira faced Skelleftea AIK and Bili Tygri Liberec. 

“I think it was good to play in the Champions Hockey League. The quality level of the games was fine, and it was a great opportunity to compare our strengths with some of the best teams in Europe,” Stumpel began. 

The team from central Slovakia started well with two tight games against Skelleftea and impressively took one point from the game in Sweden. However, the games against Liberec didn't go so well. 

“The games in the CHL were a lesson for us and a benchmark to showe where our team stands within European hockey. It showed that we need to work more on every part of our hockey,” he said directly without making any excuses. 

Nitra is one of the better teams in the Slovak league, finishing second in the regular season last year before bowing out in the semi-finals. They also have high ambitions for the season that is just starting. 

When asked if the CHL games were more difficult than those in the domestic league, Stumpel answered, “I don't really think so. It depends on many things – what particular opponent you're facing, how well you're playing, atmosphere … It was more difficult in the areas of skating or tempo, as it was still the end of summer, at that specific time of season. However, Slovak league is a quality league and fans see games like that sometimes in our country as well.”  

Nitra opened the 2015–16 Liga season at home with a win over HC Kosice, the league's two-time defending champions and fellow CHL representative. It was a good start toward what Stumpel hopes will be a return trip for Nitra into the CHL. 

“We want to finish in top spot in our league. That's our goal, and then we'll see how the situation goes in the playoffs,” the Slovak hockey legend concluded.