Thursday, 12. March 2026 |
EHC Red Bull München: Interview with defenseman Alberts Smits
First of all, once again, officially: welcome to Munich. First the Olympics, then the move to Germany. Those were exciting weeks for you.
Alberts Smits: "Definitely. The Olympics were a whole new experience for me. But I'm happy with how I played and it was a great time. After that, I flew back to Finland and actually thought I would play the rest of the season for Jukurit. We then decided pretty quickly that I would finish the season in Munich. And so far, I really like it here."
Although you probably haven't had much time to explore the city yet.
Smits: “That's right. My focus is currently entirely on ice hockey. But the people here are all very nice. I enjoy the professional work here.”
After your debut against Augsburg, you were initially sidelined due to illness. Did you use the time to watch our games and better understand our style of hockey?
Smits: "My most important goal was to get well quickly. But of course I watched the games and hoped we would win. It was hard for me to just watch, though. Now I talk a lot with the coaches about tactics and try to fulfill my role on the ice."
You moved from Latvia to Finland when you were just 14 years old. How did you come to the decision to devote your life to ice hockey so early on?
Smits: “It wasn't an easy decision, but it was one of the decisions I had to make in order to fulfill my dream. Of course, it wasn't easy at first, but then I quickly got used to it and learned a lot about life at an early age. Looking back, it helped me a lot in my development. Hockey will always be the center of my life.”
How did your family react to your decision?
Smits: “Of course, it wasn't easy for them when I left home. But they supported me and came to visit often. That made everything a little easier. For me, living alone has become completely normal.”
You already mentioned that it helped you develop your personality. Did this early independence also make you a better hockey player?
Smits: “Even though my personality and my hockey playing are two different things, it certainly had an influence. Maybe you can see that in my game. I've heard the guys say that I play like an adult.”
Latvia, Finland, the Olympics, Germany – that's not the typical resume of an 18-year-old. Is that why you try to take responsibility on the ice and lead the way in difficult situations?
Smits: "Of course. But you can't be the leader in every situation. First and foremost, I want to fulfill my intended role. That's the best way I can help the team win games. It has to fit into the system; it's not about me."
You are a physical defenseman who has also made his mark on offense in the Finnish Liiga. Thirteen points in 38 games is a good ratio for a defenseman – especially six goals. How would you describe your style? What is important to you?
Smits: “I try to play as a two-way defenseman. But the most important thing is always to close down the defensive zone and do my job at the back. Only then does it make sense to get involved in the offensive play. If that's the case, I'm happy to get involved in the game up front.”
It's no secret that we currently have many guests from North America visiting who are watching your game. Are the NHL scouts something you think about?
Smits: “No, I'm already familiar with that from Finland. I don't think about it anymore, because someone is always watching you. I don't feel pressured by it, I just take the whole thing in stride with a positive attitude.”
We've already talked about how your life revolves around ice hockey, and has done for years. What would it mean to you to be drafted into the NHL next summer?
Smits: "Of course it would mean a lot to me. But there's still a long way to go until summer. I'm trying to stay in the moment. And that means helping my team become champions this year. After the season, I can think about my future.“
With the playoffs coming up, do you already feel the right energy in the locker room?
Smits: ”Yes, of course. We've been talking about it a lot lately. We know we're in the quarterfinals, so we're trying to be ready now and take every game seriously. We've been in playoff mode for a long time."
Is there still time to relax off the ice and clear your head?
Smits: “When I'm fully focused on hockey, as I am now, I try not to get too distracted in my free time. Relax, regenerate, and spend not too much, but also not too little time on other things.”
In an earlier interview, you said that in your free time you like girly pop and singers like Taylor Swift. Are you happy with the music in the locker room so far?
Smits (laughs): “That always depends on the mood. But so far, I'm happy with our locker room DJs after games or practices. I have no complaints.”
You've worn the number 23 at various clubs. Is there a story behind that?
Smits: “Not really. It was my first number as a pro, so I'm just trying to keep it.”
Finally, what are your goals for the next two months in four words?
Smits: “Win the German championship.”
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