Cologne - The Little Alex is sitting contentedly in the sports bar. Before him a colorful birthday cake. Today, the third birthday is celebrated. Luckily, Dad Ivan-training.
He has his family, of course, accompanied the Sharks center, seen through the window, coached his son Samuel (10) with the Sharks-Bambini on the ice. "He has talent as I, but he should have fun. I do not supercharge it, "says Ivan.
But his dream is clear: "I am 29 years old, Sammy is ten. Maybe we'll play times together as a team. Let's see if I'm still fit at 38 years and he is a professional with 19 years ago. "
The Čiernik - at the moment they are the "Family Goal" at the KEC. Father Ivan has made eleven goals in eleven games. And is also one clipper Sammy: "I meet too often," he clarifies confidently. Wife Eva and two sons are a major reason why Ivan recently extended until 2011 for the sharks.
In Russia, he could earn far more money. "My family would not come. Here in Cologne we feel, however, all well, Sammy has found friends, because I did not want to force him to move, "says Ivan, who will also meet on Saturday against Hanover (19.30 Cologne Arena) again.
Before that is still exercised. Ivan and Sammy go almost every day Execute ice, little Max turns off and even a ride on dad. Before the matches Sammy and Ivan have a ritual: "We always hear a song from the Slovak home," says Sammy. The 10-year-old speaks perfect Slovak, German and English.
"He is our interpreter," laughs the proud mom Eva.Und perhaps converts Sammy soon on the trail from Papa: "I will absolutely be a professional."
Successful examples from other sports have existed: golfer Bernhard Langer (50) plays with his son Stefan (18) in professional tournaments, racing driver Hans-Joachim "braid" Stuck (56) grim son John (21) at 24-hour race on the runway.
