Player, player-coach, head coach, teammate, godfather and father. Like many sportsmen and women, Juraj Ocelka, the Hogly guide (3e division), wears many hats. But wherever you look, the same words come back to describe the 47-year-old Slovak, regardless of the label that comes before. “Leader of men”, ” Right “, “Respectful”, ” Faithful “, ” Demanding “, “Human values”…
As you will have understood, the coach of the La Roche-sur-Yon ice hockey club has been unanimously appreciated since his arrival in Vendée twenty years ago. “I had a direct connection with him, he is someone who is honest, respectful, who knows what he wants. The feeling passed immediately, he became a friend and I have known him for twenty years. Juraj even became my daughter’s godfather. I went to his house several times in Slovakia, we have a lot of memories together. Juraj, for me, is family »says Cyril Selin, sporting director of Hogly, former teammate and player under coach Ocelka.
A former pro in Slovakia, the architect of Hogly’s success naturally established himself in Vendée, even if the man is more taciturn than talkative. Arriving in France through a sporting opportunity, the native of Nitra, a town of 76,000 inhabitants 100 km east of Bratislava, began by playing in Limoges, before playing for a season with the Ducs d’Angers, in the first division. The time to pack his bags for La Roche-sur-Yon, where he will be a player (2004-2007, 2010-2012), player-coach (2012-2014), then head coach (since 2014).
He will never leave again, won over by this corner of France where he feels good, with his wife Daniela and their daughter Nina. Meet the adopted Yonnais (“For me, Juraj is French”slips Cyril Selin), it’s finally meeting the ice hockey of La Roche. “I have deep respect for Jurajexplains Elisabeth Bricard, vice-president of Hogly. He is someone very important for me, for the club, this club which has become my favorite club. I have known Juraj for six years, he is someone upright, faithful, who asks and respects the opinion of the management team. He knows how to question himself to help the club progress. He is fair and has a quiet strength… That’s Juraj. »
Quiet strength and athletic skills
A man of values above all, who guides with his skills, which his players and members of the Yonnais staff follow without doubt. « He’s a super square person, who knows what he can get out of guysexplains his friend Cyril Selin. He also knows how to shout, but at that moment you know it’s you who pushed it too far. On the athlete, the club, sometimes we do not agree, but like everywhere, it is always to pull the group to the top. It’s easy to work with him. »
“He is extremely demanding in physical preparation, on the ice, but that’s why we’ve seen the results since he’s been here,” continues the DSinstalled in the team locker room. He has enormous knowledge of hockey and the high level. He took us from D3 to D2, from D2 to D1, the observation is self-evident. He always seeks the best for the team, with a way of speaking in the locker room that is always good, which is… (He stops to think) In fact, Juraj is a leader of men. »
Summarizing a man is never easy, but it appears from interviews with those who know Juraj Ocelka that the latter is the coach and the man for the job. Because it advances over time escorted by a quiet force, based on a base of values in which people recognize themselves. In two words, it unites. “The term quiet strength, yes, that’s all Jurajapproves the vice-president. He’s someone who always creeps me out when I see him sometimes. (laughs) ! But he is fair, is not negative after a defeat, says that we have to move on to the next match. When he speaks in the locker room, I have to say it’s pretty incredible. Juraj is calm, knows how to adapt and evolve, that’s also why he is a leader of men. »
Also read. Juraj Ocelka: “A return home necessary every summer”
The adaptation and permanent reinvention of the Slovak are also enabled by this in-depth knowledge of his art. The player had also greatly impressed Cyril Selin… “There is a lot to learn from him. On the ice, he was a hyper technical player. Not necessarily fast, but hyper technical, not aggressive, not very into contact, he did everything with his hands. He didn’t need to be mean, he was above it, super fluid. When I played with him, you knew that if you were in a good position, you just had to push the puck into the back of the net. »
And behind the quiet strength and the ice hockey specialist? “Juraj is known to everyone in La Roche-sur-Yonopens Elisabeth Bricard. But for me, Juraj is also kindness personified. He looks out for others, he has a radar that’s really incredible, he knows when things aren’t going well and he comes to see you, talk to you, ask you what’s going on. And then you have to tell him (laughs) ! I can also say about him that he likes to party, that we laugh a lot with him. »
The taciturn would therefore not be completely one. You just need to break the ice, something that happens quickly when you interact with this sports fan. A swimmer and tennis player in his spare time, the native of Nitra, for example, spent two hours at sea with Arnaud Boissières recently, as he met La Rochelle rugby player Grégory Alldritt, as part of his work.
Passionate, emotional godfather at the time of Cyril Selin’s request, guide, natural leader, all the facets of the Slovakian led the Hogly to retire his number 24. A tribute only paid to the major and iconic players of each club. Like Juraj Ocelka. The leader of men.
