From President to President: Miroslav Satan during the IIHF Hall of Fame induction last month with IIHF President René Fasel.
photo: Andre Ringuette / HHOF-IIHF Images
The Slovak Ice Hockey Federation (SZLH) has chosen Miroslav Satan as the new President for the next three years. He won the election for the successor of Martin Kohut.
Due to Darius Rusna’s withdrawal before the vote, Satan and Jaromir Smatrala remained the only candidates.
The new president, who has been leading the national team program at the SZLH Office, expressed he was surprised how many votes he received during Wednesday’s election.
“It’s a big commitment for the coming period. I’ve been working in Slovak hockey for two years and now I have three more ahead,” were the first words of Miroslav Satan as the president, who won with 229 votes to 99, which was nearly 70 percent of all delegates.
“I take it as a strong mandate because the other candidates had a lot more time to prepare. I decided to run only two weeks ago so I didn't have time for more agitation. I had met only three bigger groups. I had missed more in the pre-election period, because we were burdened working for the World Championships,” Satan said.
The new president addressed a few words to his opponents, but Darius Rusnak turned down his candidacy during the congress and only Samtrala was left.
“The election program of Mr Smatrala literally scared me. Certain things were promised in it, and in my opinion, Slovak hockey would return to this place where it was before the arrival of Martin Kohut, who recovered the Slovak ice hockey. I respect Darius Rusnak. He was my role model when I was little, and he inspired me. If he gives us a helping hand, we'll be happy to use it,” continued Satan.
The new president also positively accepted the fact that Martin Kohut, the former president, and Michal Handzus are in the new executive committee. “Michal has been working for the development of youth for a long time, even though he has no role in it. He is involved in various processes and is further than other candidates. I am glad he is in the executive committee.”
The new Executive Committee met for the first time today when Satan embarked on his first mission. “At the end of the summer, I want to visit every Slovak club with a vision that we have 80 to 90 per cent ready to agree on. If they have objections, we are ready to discuss them. So, a lot of work is waiting for us,” concluded Satan.
Miroslav Satan worked as General Manager of Slovak national team for last two years. Before he agreed to be a GM of the Team Europe during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
He started his active career in hometown Topolcany from where he went to Dukla Trencin. In 1993 Edmonton Oilers drafted him where he started his big NHL career.
In the best ice hockey league, he played for Edmonton Oilers, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins. He played 1136 games and he got 789 points there. He also played in KHL for Dinamo Moscow and HC Slovan Bratislava.
His biggest successes were mostly in the national team where he is the only one player who holds all Slovak medals from IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship play – one gold (2002), two silver medals (2000 and 2012) and one bronze (2003).
In 2009 Miroslav Satan won the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh Penguins. Since May of 2019 he is a member of the IIHF Hall of Fame. His and the other jerseys from the ceremony are currently auctioned for charity.
Due to Darius Rusna’s withdrawal before the vote, Satan and Jaromir Smatrala remained the only candidates.
The new president, who has been leading the national team program at the SZLH Office, expressed he was surprised how many votes he received during Wednesday’s election.
“It’s a big commitment for the coming period. I’ve been working in Slovak hockey for two years and now I have three more ahead,” were the first words of Miroslav Satan as the president, who won with 229 votes to 99, which was nearly 70 percent of all delegates.
“I take it as a strong mandate because the other candidates had a lot more time to prepare. I decided to run only two weeks ago so I didn't have time for more agitation. I had met only three bigger groups. I had missed more in the pre-election period, because we were burdened working for the World Championships,” Satan said.
The new president addressed a few words to his opponents, but Darius Rusnak turned down his candidacy during the congress and only Samtrala was left.
“The election program of Mr Smatrala literally scared me. Certain things were promised in it, and in my opinion, Slovak hockey would return to this place where it was before the arrival of Martin Kohut, who recovered the Slovak ice hockey. I respect Darius Rusnak. He was my role model when I was little, and he inspired me. If he gives us a helping hand, we'll be happy to use it,” continued Satan.
The new president also positively accepted the fact that Martin Kohut, the former president, and Michal Handzus are in the new executive committee. “Michal has been working for the development of youth for a long time, even though he has no role in it. He is involved in various processes and is further than other candidates. I am glad he is in the executive committee.”
The new Executive Committee met for the first time today when Satan embarked on his first mission. “At the end of the summer, I want to visit every Slovak club with a vision that we have 80 to 90 per cent ready to agree on. If they have objections, we are ready to discuss them. So, a lot of work is waiting for us,” concluded Satan.
Miroslav Satan worked as General Manager of Slovak national team for last two years. Before he agreed to be a GM of the Team Europe during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
He started his active career in hometown Topolcany from where he went to Dukla Trencin. In 1993 Edmonton Oilers drafted him where he started his big NHL career.
In the best ice hockey league, he played for Edmonton Oilers, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins. He played 1136 games and he got 789 points there. He also played in KHL for Dinamo Moscow and HC Slovan Bratislava.
His biggest successes were mostly in the national team where he is the only one player who holds all Slovak medals from IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship play – one gold (2002), two silver medals (2000 and 2012) and one bronze (2003).
In 2009 Miroslav Satan won the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh Penguins. Since May of 2019 he is a member of the IIHF Hall of Fame. His and the other jerseys from the ceremony are currently auctioned for charity.