Hamrlik Talks Dirt On Fehr: Neuvie Backs Him Up
If you hadn't heard recently, 38 year old seasoned veteran Roman Hamrlik had started to get a little case of cabin fever and just wants to play hockey. Watching a $3.5 million paycheck go down the tubes in his 18th hockey season (in the NHL for 20 years), Hamrlik felt the need to speak out, so he did. Earlier this week he spoke with a reporter at a Czech sports agency, Daily Sport, in which turned into a war of words regarding the current lockout and it's band leader Donald Fehr. As a side note, Hamrlik is one of very few current players in the NHL to have faced the previous two lockouts under Gary Bettman.
In an interview with isport.cz, a few translations went out that rubbed players the wrong way but one in particular seems to show a straight forward translation. We will go with the one provided by the Edmonton Journal as a basis for this article. When asked about what if the players still trusted Fehr, Hammers response was "Hockey is a team game, we’re on one side, but I’m getting disgusted by all that’s been happening. By those e-mails and stuff they’re sending. I’m no longer reading it. We’ve got to realize we’ve lost a quarter of the season, that’s $425 million! And who’s going to give it back to us? The games and the money? Mr. Fehr?" With this bold statement (that was translated in a different way to boot) came immediate response from the politically correct players of the NHL. Adjectives such as "selfish", "disappointing", and "old" came in response from Montreal Canadiens left winger Erik Cole who thought Hamrlik's statement was not in favor of the players.
We have to push Fehr to the wall to get the deal.According to TSN.ca.eh, when Neuvirth was asked about his fellow teammates words, Neuvie came to his defense and said "'I agree 100 percent with Hammer,' Neuvirth told TVA Nova Sport in the Czech Republic. 'This lockout is not about majority of players, I think. It is about several superstars with big contracts.'"OH SNAP! DID YOU HEAR THAT OVI?!?! Well, it probably wasn't aimed towards Ovi, but towards those other hockey money makers. Yea! Take that you money making hockey players!
When asked what he would do if the lockout continued on through the season, Hamrlik stated his plans. "I’ve got my ticket back booked for Nov. 29, but if there’s no deal, I would love to play with my brother (Martin) at Zlin (of the Czech Extraleague). But I would prefer to sign for a good year or two in the NHL and end my career there." You would think he was looking to go play on his little brothers team. Nope. Martin is a year older and has made a name for himself in the Czech league, especially the Zlin club, as he has been a permanent fixture there since the 97'-98' season.
To see Hamrlik's response to all of this, head over here to see a crazy TSN anchor mustache, as well as a 1 on 1 interview with Chef Hammer.
Random fact of the day: Roman Hamrlik was selected 1st overall in the 1992 draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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