Last Friday the Hungarian Olympic committee received an email from the IIHF stating that Nátán Vertes has officially qualified for the hockey skills challenge event at the Youth Winter Olympics coming up in 2016 in Lillehammer Norway. With Dr. Zsigmond Nagy director of international relations for the Hungarian Olympic Committee formally conforming Vertes’ participation this officially seals the qualification of Nátán.
Nátán finished 7th at the skills challenge summit in Vierumaki Finland earlier this month. Vertes has the opportunity to be the second Hungarian male and third Hungarian overall to medal in this event as four years ago Attila Kovács for the men and Fanni Gasparics for the women finished second in Innsbruck.
Nátán took a break form his busy preseason scheduale to answere a couple of questions for icehockey.hu
What was it like in Vierumaki?
The first three days were all time trials, we were all fighting to get get the best times and to have a higher seed in the qualifications. There were a number of events where I had the time time in the trials, because of my outstanding results I was able to start the last couple of days with some points in the bag, which was important. I was somewhat mentally tired by the last day, I will have to work on this for next time so I can last both mentally and physically and deal with the stress that come with all of this. I feel that I have a good chance of winning the Olympic event, I made a number of great friends in Vierumaki, of course they were my opponents on the ice but off the ice we became friends, its something I will not forget.
Were you able to get an accurate assmenten of the competition?
This was a very strong field of competitors, but I will I have a good chance of winning, especially if I can keep myself mentally on top. I was usually one of the fastest in venets that went for speed, but mentally I need to be stronger for the constant work load. I feel that the German and Slovak skaters will be the toughest competitors, but the Canadian and Finnish skater won't be bad either.
What does it mean to you that you were able to qualify?
Luckily I have some international experience, which is very important. This way I can realistically see where I am and where I need to get to. I can what kind of hockey do others play, these are the only times, as well as with the national team when I can experience the physical demands of playing multiple games in one day. This gives me a chance to try to develop and be able to play at a higher level.
What do you have planned for the future?
I would like to be apart of the senior national team, at the club level in a few year to be a member of the EBEL squad are two of my goals, however my biggest dream is on the other side of the ocean. The NHL has been my goal since I was a little kid, I will do anything and everything that I can to achieve this goal, this is in front of me anytime I feel tired of if I can go on, hockey is my life.
Photo: Attila Soos