Richard Lintner announcing his candidacy (source: SITA)
Lintner, a member of Slovakia's squad that won the gold medal at the IIHF World Ice Hockey Championship in 2002, also unveiled a programme containing 24 items designed to boost the development of Slovak hockey. Lintner, 37, has for some time been at the helm of an initiative – joined also by fellow former notables of Slovak hockey – Peter Bondra, Miroslav Šatan, Rastislav Pavlikovský, Ján Filc and Otto Haščák – that, as he says, seeks to give new impetus to this sport.
Lintner is positioned to challenge incumbent SZĽH President Igor Nemeček who has announced his bid for another term, with possibly more names to be thrown into the hat later.
“We’re convinced that Rišo (Richard) Lintner has what it takes to exercise this position in an honest and responsible manner,” Bondra said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. “Our joint objective lies in introducing our programme that will make Slovak hockey a modern, credible and attractive sport.”
Lintner gave thanks for the support displayed for his bid. “I feel huge support from my team as well as fans and the public. I’m sure that our programme ... will help Slovak hockey. I realise we have a difficult task, but I believe that together with the state's representatives, municipalities, hockey teams and the public we can [do it],” said Lintner, who played four seasons in the NHL with three different teams.
The programme is centred on four areas - youth, Slovakia’s hockey leagues, the national team and SZĽH. Among other initiatives, Lintner and his team want the SZĽH to exude trust and authority, and to be a role model in terms of transparency. The group is also planning to make use of what they call are “strong international contacts and experience from the hockey at top international level” to the benefit of Slovak hockey.
