Matej Jendrisak and Patrik Suchanek are some of the few Czech players that play in the Swedish top league, SSL. Both of them have been chosen in The World Games (TWG) roster to represent Czech Republic.

Matej Jendrisak Player number: 28 Current position: Forward Grip: left Height: 186 Date of birth: 03.04.1989 Country of birth: Czech Republic Current Club: Linkoping IBK (SWE) Original Club: Torpedo Havirov

Patrik Suchanek Player number: 12 Current position: Defender Grip: right Height: 170 Date of birth: 16.11.1990 Country of birth: Czech Republic Current Club: IBK Dalen (SWE) Original Club: 1.SC Vitkovice

How does it feel to be part of the national team?
Matej: I enjoy every moment and every game in the national team. And I’m happy I can be here.
Patrik: It’s always an honour to be in the national team. It’s something that every player wants.

What is your role in the national team?
Matej: My role is to be one of the leaders of the team. I’m glad about that and I feel I’m now old enough to be one of the leaders. Not when I was younger and playing in the third line and tried to play safe. Now I can bring something extra to the national team.
Patrik: After third World Championships, I think my role is getting bigger and bigger. I simply play for the team and try to make good decisions that benefit my teammates.

How does it feel to be playing at TWG?
Matej: It’s a big event. Everyone’s saying it’s our next step to the Olympics. We’ll see. I’m actually really curious how it will look in the city of Wroclaw when there are over 6000 athletes there. I’m happy to be a part of it
Patrik: It’s an honour and a big chance to show floorball. I hope that we, like all floorball players, will do our best so we can show that floorball can be and should be in the Olympics.

Who would you say is your toughest opponent at TWG?
Matej: It’s the top three: Switzerland, Sweden, Finland. I think we have had better result against Finland in the past 2-3 years so maybe if I had to say only one team, it’s Finland.
Patrik: Every game against the top three (Sweden, Switzerland, Finland) is tough so I would have to name them all.

How did you start playng floorball?
Matej: Around 2000, it was the new sport in the city. When I was young we played a lot of hockey outside during the summer time with simply the sticks and a ball, then it just transferred to floorball.
Patrik: I played hockey before and then I started to play floorball with the guys in my home town. We played small area games and it was just for fun. Then it developed and developed, so I quit hockey and focused on floorball.

What has been your most memorable floorball moment so far?
Matej: There’s a lot. From the national team they are the first national team match and of course the medal. From club career, I have to say the Swedish Superfinal.
Patrik: Third place in the WFC in Gothenburg and when we won the title with the club team in the Czech league two times. Also, I’m now playing in the Swedish league and I have to say it’s pretty great since not everyone from Czech Republic have a chance do that.

Who do you look up to? Any idols?
Matej: I never had one idol. I’ve always been looking up to the better players. One of the first ones was Jihde since he was the best and that was the thought: “I want to be like him”.
Patrik: I don’t have any heroes. I just play my style of floorball and of course try to learn something from other international players. My playing style is like a mix of everything.