BRATISLAVA. The former head coach of the Slovak national hockey team, Craig Ramsay, is returning to work.
The Slovak Ice Hockey Association informed about it through social networks, saying that Ramsay will soon fly to Slovakia again.
The seventy-four-year-old Canadian will be part of the coaching staff of new head coach Vladimír Országh already at the German Cup in November and at the Christmas Kaufland Cup in December.
“During the summer, the health of the former head coach of our national team improved so much that he is ready to help Slovak hockey again of his own free will,” the association said.
Országh took over the national team last season after Ramsay was sidelined by pneumonia. At first, he trained the national team only temporarily, but the condition of the Canadian expert did not improve, so he also led the team at the World Championships.
The Canadian is out of contract at the end of the season. Already in July, the head of SZĽH Miroslav Šatan indicated that Ramsay will continue to be part of the team and should help Slovakia at the Olympic tournament in Milan.
“We announced that we would be happy if Craig would cooperate with us and help coach Országh. I’m glad that his health allows it and he will come,” Šatan said about Ramsay’s return.
“The Olympic season will be tough and Craig will help us get it off to a good start. Whatever role coach Országh gives him, he’ll be willing to do – whether it’s on the bench or in the stands. With his life experience, he’ll definitely be an asset.”
