CHICAGO – Petr Cech swapped goalkeeper gloves and cleats for big pads and skates.
Cech, considered one of the greatest soccer goalies of all time, donned his hockey gear on Tuesday and Wednesday to step into a much smaller net and face shots from Chicago Blackhawks players at their training center.
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“Of course you’re up against the best players in the world,” said Cech, who played in the Premier League with Chelsea between 2004 and 2015 and Arsenal between 2015 and 2019. a good shot, so you have to be smart and in control against them. In the end, you try to do the same thing (as in soccer). You cover the open spaces and you try to predict what the shooter is going to do, which is more difficult. I had a lot of fun. It’s an invaluable experience for me to jump on the ice and try that. »
Cech, who was invited by his friend, the Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazekplays in a semi-professional hockey league with Chelmsford, UK.
Mrazek said he’s been trying to get Cech in an NHL net for several years. He would have had the opportunity to do so when he played with the Carolina Hurricanes and the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the COVID-19 has come to ruin everything. In early December, Mrazek received the go-ahead from Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson, coach Luke Richardson and goalie coach Jimmy Waite to bring Cech to the team.
“I would say he looks like a real goaltender,” Mrazek said. It doesn’t look like he never played hockey and only soccer. »
Video: Petr Cech receives shots from the Blackhawks
The Blackhawks also tried to score against Cech on a soccer field on Monday. Mrazek even faced a few shots in front of goal.
“He’s definitely better than me when I get in front of a soccer goal, because it felt like the goal was five times bigger than it actually is,” added Mrazek.
Mrazek said Cech will be at the United Center on Thursday for the game against the Colorado Avalanche (8:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCH, ALT, ESPN+, SN NOW), before returning to London on Friday.
Blackhawks forward Andreas Athanasiou said he was “very impressed” with Cech.
“He’s fluid in front of goal,” he said. He plays a bit of hockey, so you can see he’s quite comfortable. I grew up watching soccer and used to play a little so I know who he is. It was great to have the chance to take penalty shots against him, to go on the soccer field with him and to take him on the ice with us. »