Patrik Elias

Patrik Elias

For section WoL Interviews’ historic first interview we feature Patrik Elias, all-time leading scorer for the New Jersey Devils. The parallels between him and the Week of Life Project aren’t simply a shared origin in the Czech Republic and current success in the US, but also a mutual interest in the well being of others as exemplified by Elias’ activities with UNICEF.

BORN CLUB MARITAL STATUS   4.13. 1976 IN TREBIC NEW JERSEY DEVILS MARRIED, WIFE PETRA — Started his professional ice-hockey career in Kladno in 1992 — Drafted by the New Jersey Devils 51st overall (2nd round) in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft — Has played his 14th season for the Devils and has become one of the key players and leading personalities of the team as well as the NHL — He wore the captain’s „C“ in the 2006/2007 season and earned the nickname „Mr. Overtime“ thanks to his exceptional abilities to decide matches in overtime — Has won the most prestigious ice hockey trophy – the Stanley Cup – twice during seasons 1999/2000 and 2002/2003 — The New Jersey Devils franchise’s all-time leading scorer, while also holding franchise records for most points in a season (96) and most career game-winning goals (70) — In 1994, at the age of 18, he first wore the national jersey for the Czech Republic during the European Juniors Championship — Czech national team bronze medalist from the World Championship held in Switzerland in 1998 and the 2006 Olympics in Torino — Led the national team as Captain during the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver — Since 2006, he has been organizing a summer hockey school in the Ice Vault Arena, Wayne, New Jersey — In the same year of 2006, Patrik Elias was named the Czech Republic’s Good Will Ambassador to UNICEF ACHIEVEMENTS All-Star Team (EJC 1994) Bronze medal WC 1998 Switzerland Stanley Cup winner 2000 Winner NHL Bud Light Plus/Minus (2000-01) Stanley Cup winner 2003 New Jersey captain for 2006/07 season NHL All-Rookie Team (1997—1998) NHL All Star Game 2000 Nominated to the NHL All-Star first team (2000-01) NHL All Star Game 2002 Bronze medal 2006 Winter Olympics Turin 2008/09 — The Golden Stick Trophy for the best Czech hockey player

1) We selected you for the first issue for several reasons, but the main reason is what connects us the most. Week of Life is a Czech project that found a partner in America, thanks to whom now has the chance to develop and grow. You too were born in the Czech Republic, as a matter of fact in the former Czechoslovakia, and America helped you evolve as well. What’s your take on this? What did America give you?

It definitely gave me greater independence, despite living in Kladno, which was quite far from my home for Czech standards. The transition to a different country, where a foreign language was spoken, where there is more competition and a different mentality, it was definitely a challenge and a calling for me. But it wasn’t just America, but the NHL as well, where a person always encounters something new to learn.

2) If I’m not mistaken, you’ve been in America for the past 15 years. You’re playing your fourteenth season in New Jersey. That’s a one half of your adult lifetime and that changes a person, you learn new customs and habits. Where are you more at home? Could you imagine one day returning?

In my heart I am still Czech, or rather a Moravian, but I must admit that the other I get, the more I feel a pull to return home. On the other hand, it’s true that I’ve grown accustomed to America. The way of life here suits me in many ways and I definitely don’t miss some typical Czech traits such as jealousy.

3) Let’s return to the past once more, what were your beginnings in the USA like?

I couldn’t speak English and all of a sudden I was very far away from everything. The distance was immense in comparison to that of Trebic and Kladno, which I had trouble getting used to as a 14 year old, but that experience helped me during my transition to the USA. I was very lucky to have teammates and people around hockey, who helped me unbelievably during my first few years.

4) Another reason why I chose you for the first interview was due to your activities for the world organization UNICEF. Week of Life isn’t simply an internet project, WoL is also a group of people that want to give. This also connects us. Tell me, how does it happen that a sports star, whose only concern is to score goals, attain the beautiful and incredibly important need to GIVE and HELP others?

Well, you rather simplified my work, but I understand what you mean. In regards to UNICEF, my need to help was inspired by my bad experiences with hepatitis, which almost ended my career. In these situations a person realizes that there are more important things than, in your words, to score goals. The possibility of assisting UNICEF was something that my wife and I were discussing in the hospital, and I think a person in such a position, who has the option of helping, should take it as a given. That too is something that hockey and America has given me – the chance to help others.

5) When you look at Week of Life through the eyes as a person, a celebrity, who protects his privacy, can you find the understanding and reasoning why ordinary people should reveal to others how they live, why a doctor from one place in the world should learn about a doctor from another place in the world?

We live in a time of information technology and the concept of privacy gets smaller by the day. Each person imagines something different under it and it’s up to each of us to establish our own boundaries. I don’t consider WoL to be an invasion of privacy; I rather consider it to be an interesting project that aims to expand horizons and to educate. In short, a web of information that belongs in today’s world and has its substantiations.

6) You mention new communication technology. How have these things influenced your life?

Pretty normally I think, but the first thing I do in the morning is turn on the computer. I’m slightly dependent on the internet and attached to my iPhone. I support all these technologies and consider them to be revolutionary, but everything in good measure. This means for example that children should use technology as an educational tool, best in the context of schools, and not have it replace physical activity and direct personal communication in a collective with computer games.

7) I’d like to return to the subject of UNICEF. While on your missions have you ever been emotionally overwhelmed when you saw the suffering of children or the poverty around you? How do you handle these things?

One of the most dramatic moments was when I visited a home for children with HIV in Belize, I had trouble holding back my tears... and I haven’t even been to Rwanda and other countries in Africa, where the situation is much worse. These children did not choose their fate and without help cannot even influence it, which is a reason why I respect the work of UNICEF, who not only saves children from the immediate threat of death, but also returns them to schools, teaches them how to plant food, basically how to take care of themselves and their surroundings. We could speak forever about the various UNICEF programs, but the millions of saved and protected lives yearly speak for themselves. When you come to a place where UNICEF is giving aid, you’re afraid and ashamed that you didn’t help out earlier.

8) A silly question at the end, but I believe it’s a question that any little boy with a dream in his pocket would ask. How does one become a professional hockey stat in the NHJ, to be famous, rich, and successful?

It has its advantages and disadvantageous, and it’s exactly this – to be rich and famous that neither you nor your parents should think about if you want to be successful in hockey. It’s not good if you enter it with these goals. You have to work on yourself, love hockey, try to be the best and do all you can to attain it, you must work, work, work, and everything else is the cherry on top, which comes in the form of recognition and other advantages, that comes at the very end. Maybe...

Patrik Elias