You are the champion until someone knocks you down, this past week DVTK faced two tough opponents who were chomping at the bit. The games against Ferencváros and MAC tested DVTK this week, but with with two goals and four assists, against the two Budapest teams Nikandrosz Galanisz proved that he was valuable to his team and is this week’s Player of the Week.
Galanisz started his hockey career in Dunaújváros where he worked his way up through the youth system and eventually making it to the senior team. He was a young forward during the first ever MOL League season, during the eight season in the league he has won two titles with Dunaújváros and is also the all time leader in points, goals and assists. He has also lead the league in goals scored and assists recorded separate times and has represented Hungary at the world championships. For the first time during his pro career he is playing somewhere other than Dunaújváros as his signed with Diósgyőr during the off season. Nikandrosz took time to talk to icehockey.hu after their win over MAC.
What was the secret to the great performance by you and your team against Fradi and MAC?
First off we just went through a coaching change, every player had to prove to the new coach why they are a valuable player. Luckley this carried over to the ice and we had to great wins.
You spent your entire career in Dunaújváros, what has it been like to change teams?
I have only played pro hockey with Dunaújváros therefore I was expecting a lot from this season before it started. Everything is different and new to both me and my family as well and everyday is new challenge to me.
MOL League is in its eighth season and you have been there from the start, how much has the league change since the start?
The league is getting faster and tougher from year to year, I think that the league has changed and improved tremendously since the first couple of seasons.
If you had to sell the league to an import player on why it is worth signing with a team in the league?
You have to see that there are more and more import players coming over and signing with teams in the league. I think players are starting to see that this is not bad league, if i was inviting an import to play in the league I would tell them that this is a pretty strong and it is a challenge to play in.
You are one of the all time leaders in points, goals and assists, what does this mean to you?
The team comes first but of course like anyone else I check the stats as well, but I have been playing in the league from the start, and actually it is more a testament to longevity. I work hard everyday so I can play well in games.