Mário Grman. (source: TASR)
Two more Slovak ice hockey players have recently signed contracts with clubs in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
The first one was defenceman Mário Grman, who represented Slovakia at this year's IIHF World Championship in the Czech Republic, during which he scored a goal and assisted in eight games. Next season, the 27-year-old player is set to play for Admiral Vladivostok. According to Sportnet, Grman will earn €310,000.
Talking to Nový Čas daily, he admitted that he received hateful messages and comments, wishing him death and that he would choke on the money.
"It's their opinion, I don't listen. None of them paved my way to hockey or contributed to it," he retorted.
Grman also said that although he had received proposals from the Czech Republic, Sweden and Slovakia's own Slovan Bratislava, he preferred the conditions the KHL provides. As he explained, he is getting older and wants to play somewhere where he can earn good money before he retires.
"I've played in Finland and the Czech Republic, but that can't be compared to the conditions in the KHL," he said. "Some people think that I earned a lot in Finland, but the opposite is true."
Another player is Adam Ružička, who will play for HC Spartak Moscow in the next season.
Ružička had been without a contract since it was terminated by the NHL franchise Arizona Coyotes in late February, after he posted a video on his social media showing a white powder appearing to be cocaine and credit card on a table.
"I'm glad that everything turned out this way - that I've become part of such a serious club like Spartak Moscow. I'm especially looking forward to playing alongside my sister's husband, Michal Čajkovský - and there are many great players on the team," Ružička was quoted saying on the team website.
At the beginning of June, Čajkovský himself signed a new two-year contract with Spartak Moscow. He has played in the KHL since the 2016/2017 season.
In addition to these three players, Michal Krištof (HC Sochi), Martin Gernát (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl), Christián Jaroš and Adam Liška (both Severstal Cherepovets) have signed contracts in the KHL from Slovak hockey players.
