Ronald Knot: «He recommended me to go to Nizhnekamsk and I am happy to be here»

Ronald Knot talks about his family, decision to move to Nizhnekamsk and food preferences.

- Ronald, as far as we know, you and your wife Martina are expecting a baby. Congratulations!

- Thank you!

- How did you meet Martina?

- I met Martina 11 years ago during the summer, at August. Me and my friend have been hanging out, she was his friend, that’s how we met, and then we started to go to school together, basically, we started dating right after that. We are together since that moment. We are 3 years married.

-  In our previous interview, you said that all your family members have names starting with letter R. Did you pick the babe name?

-  Well, we did. It is going to be a daughter; her name is going to be Olivia. I am not going to insist on name starting with letter R. I am so excited!

- Ronald, is it hard to be far from Martina?

-  Well, it is a little complicated. There was no point to bring her here right now, because we have been practicing a lot and I barely spend all the day at the rink doing the practices or at the tournament in Magnitogorsk. She would be alone in apartment. Nevertheless, I hope that I will see her soon. Yeah, it is tough for both of us. We tried to do as much things as we could before I left. For example around apartment, house, living … to not make her do that on her own. We are missing each other. It a part of our decision. We accepted these consequences of not seeing each other. I hope it is going to be better after and maybe in the future seasons she is going to be there with me.

- As it says, behind a strong man there's a strong woman.

- Yeah, exactly, I can say that. She is standing by my side for 11 years and I cannot image being without her.

- Who put you on skates?

- Actually, I do not know, probably, it have been my parents. I tried it and liked it and that’s why I like hockey.

- What is your longest flight?

- I am not sure which one was… We have been traveling with my wife, we have been in Sri Lanka and also in Cuba, I am not sure which one is further, I would say Cuba, it was a pretty long flight.

-  In 2014, you had a great experience of a long travel – «15 hours in bus from Malmo and tomorrow 9:30 on practice. Yeah, that’s what I want. »

- It was a moment when we have been coming back from U20 championship in Malmo and we have been traveling by bus to my hometown and the other day at the morning we had practice.

- How did you feel?

- Of course, I was tired, whatever, it was just weird situation, but it was okay.

- During the season, you will have a flight to Khabarovsk and Vladivostok. What do you prefer to do during 9 hours flights?

- I would love to fall asleep during the flight but I am usually not sleeping in the planes or in a bus, I would, probably, study Russian or listen music or playing some games or reading a book, speak with other guys.

- Could you recommend some book or movie for our fans?

- I am not watching any specifics. I mean any series. I am just waiting for a new season of «The Witcher» on a Netflix.

- In 2015, you have played in Praha (HC Slavia Praha). One of your ex-teammates is Viktor Nestrasil. His brother Andrei Nestrasil played in Nizhnekamsk for 2 seasons. Did you ask Viktor or Andrei about our team and city?

- Yes, I did. Because I know Andrei pretty well, we know each other for a long time, we have been practicing in the same gym for a while, and of course, I was calling him and doing some research about this city and hockey club. He recommended me to go to Nizhnekamsk and I am happy to be here. He gave me a good recommendation.

-  You are not afraid to express your opinion via twitter. In addition, you was invited to a hockey podcast with headline – «Ronald Knot, Twitter guru». Could you tell us a little more about that?

- It was during the pic of pandemic when everything was closed, I was sitting at home, I did not have much to do. They just noticed that I was active in the twitter. They really appreciated it, because not many players in Czech league are active in social Medias. They decided to invite me for a podcast and that is why I have been there and because I am a hockey player.

- What is your pregame ritual?

-  I don’t have any pregame ritual. Only warm up routine I do before every game.

- Ronald let’s pretend that you did not choose to play hockey. Who would you be?

- That is a good question, but I actually don’t know answer for this.

-  Now, we will have quiz: What is your favorite color?

-  Red or blue

- Favorite animal?

- Lion

- Borscht or garlic soup?

- Borscht

- Czech burger or Echpochmak?

- Czech burger

- Viktor Nestrasil or Lukas Klok?

- As a D partner Lukas Klok, as my Center Viktor Nestrasil

- Who speaks Russian better Dan or Libor?

- Dan

- Frans Tuohimaa or Dominik Hasek?

- Of course Frans. I cannot measure everyone else to be in my net for this season. Sure, Evgeny, Yaroslav and Frans are good goalies, I am happy to have them in my team for the season.

- Is Jaromir Jagr the best Czech born player in the history of Czech hockey?

- Probably, he is, so far, for what he achieved and how long he played, he made a big career in NHL and in KHL and he is still playing, he is probably the best Czech player for now.

- What would you like to say to our fans?

- I will try to do my best to perform here as well as our team will. I hope our fans are going to be on the same path with us and we are going to achieve a big success this season!