Lithuania has a new coach....for free

The Lithuanian Federation new Board made its first official move, announcing the hiring  of German coach Bernd Haake during a press conference to present the entry roster for Olympic Qualification, helding in Budapest in November.
"Haake will work on a voluntary basis, as they said: for the" thank you." said Federation Secretary Tomas Budrauskas. "We will cover only the transport costs. He is a very professional coach, has experience and his approach to the work is very professional and all we know how our team needs this in this moment. Additionally, he is German, so he will bring the German discipline to our team."

"For many years I worked in Canada, Norway, United States, Italy and Germany. when I heard that was possible to work as coach for Lithuania, I immediately thought: this is a challenge for me! And this is the first time in history, when a Western coach come to work in the Eastern European country. I do not have a contract, but I am here to help your team. For me it's very important,"- said Haake. "I do not speak your language, but I know that you guys speak English. I do not think we will have a problem of it. I have already seen a few videos when the team played in the World Championships. I can assure you - this is a good team, but the players compete in nine different countries and clubs and is not so easy to combine them into a single squad. I will try to do it, "- said the 66 years-old Haake, a sport and biology teacher with experiences at Kölner Haie and Iserlohn Roosters as assistant coach and Bolzano and Vipiteno in italy as head-coach.

During the same press conference Federation made a funny gaffe: when Secretary read the enter roster for Budapest tournament, citing the name of New Jersey Devils star Dainius Zubrus (present in the room), but he, like the media, heard for the first time the news.
"When that happens? I have not heard about it - said Zubrus laughing - The NHL lockout began and how long it will be - nobody knows. The last time we lost all year. For the Lithuanian national team can not exactly say yes or no" concluded
Questioned why the player has not been notified, Tomas Budrauskas said: "We hope to see every time Dainius playing for his country. But wishes are sometimes at odds with opportunities. Therefore we always try, even without asking him each time if he want/can be included in the list of candidates. Our hope dies last. So it is this time. If circumstances permit, as said Dainius, maybe we will see him on ice"

Dainius Zubrus played the last time for the national team in 2005.

Lithuania entry roster:
Goalies:
Mantas Armanis (20) – Mora IK SWE
Nerijus Daukševičius (30) – Energija Elektrėnai
Artūras Kuzmičius (22) – no team
Donatas Žukovas (18) – Energija Elektrėnai

Defenders:
Tomas Vyšniauskas (34) –  Energija Elektrėnai
Mindaugas Kieras (32) –  Slough Jets GBR
Rolandas Aliukonis (31) – Energija Elektrėnai
Artūras Katulis (31) – Berkut Kyiv UKR
Karolis Kubilius (29) – Energija Elektrėnai
Justinas Vėželis (24) – Energija Elektrėnai
Karolis Šveikauskas (23) – Kėdainių LRK
Andrej Burakov (22) – Energija Elektrėnai
Lukas Burneika (21) – Kėdainių LRK
Merijus Ališauskas (21) – Metalurgs Liepaja LAT
Benas Šilinskas (21) – Kėdainių LRK
Artur Rybakov (20) – Baltica Vilnius
Valdas Pikčius (20) – Energija Elektrėnai

Forwards:
Dainius Zubrus (34) – New Jersey Devils NHL
Darius Pliskauskas (32) – Slough Jets GBR
Dalius Vaiciukevičius (31) – Energija Elektrėnai
Dovydas Kulevičius (30) – Energija Elektrėnai
Darius Lelėnas (30) – Kongsvinger NOR
Algimantas Visockas (25) – Energija Elektrėnai
Deividas Kazlauskas (25) – Energija Elektrėnai
Donatas Kumeliauskas (25) – Arystan Temirtau KAZ
Marius Lomakin (24) – Energija Elektrėnai
Vytautas Jagelavičius (24) – Energija Elektrėnai
Jonas Viknius (22) – Kėdainių LRK;
Remigijus Guoga (22) – Kėdainių LRK;
Povilas Verenis (22) – Metalurgs Liepaja LAT
Arnoldas Bosas (22) – Arystan Temirtau KAZ
Tadas Kumeliauskas (22) –  Arystan Temirtau KAZ
Edgar Rybakov (21) – Baltica Vilnius
Andrejus Židkovas (21) – Energija Elektrėnai
Dovydas Streckis (21) – Kėdainių LRK
Lasvydas Rimkus (21) – Energija Elektrėnai
Pijus Rulevičius (20) – Waterloo Black Hawks USA
Aivaras Bendžius (19) – Ilves Tampere FIN
Justas Steponaitis (19) – Energija Elektrėnai
Roman Aliapkin (19) – Zauralie RUS
Aimas Fiščevas (18) – Baltica Vilnius
Daniel Bogdziul (18) –  Ilves Tampere FIN
Mauras Baltrukonis (18) – THK Tver RUS
Mantas Marcinkevičius (18) – Energija Elektrėnai

 

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