Hey people , we are here an other time with an amazing interview of one of the top 5 best players in the world. He's from belgium and is the first player in the history of his country that enter in this top 5!
With you JOHN-JOHN DOHMEN!
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When and why did you start playing hockey?
I started when I was 5 years old at Leopold HC in Belgium.
All my family was playing there so I just followed the family train.
Have you always been decisive, highlighting ... In teams you've been?
No, When I was 12 I was selected in the belgian developing program but I was not so good.
I worked a lot to become a better player. I think my mental skills helped me a lot.
I was selected in the Belgian national Team (Red Lions) at 16 and I had difficulties at the beginning. But one day, I said..Now I start to dare to play and it worked! I started scoring a lot and even more in the last moments of the games.
How were your formative years?
I have been selected in every youth national team U14, U16, U18 and U21.
We won the first european title in the Belgian history in England in 2004. I was the captain and number 7 already. After that, I was selected in the A team until now.
It is important to you your family, do they supported you and accompanied you?
It’s very important. Especially when you are young. When your family is supporting you, you are stronger mentally because they never let you down. They are present in the good and bad moments. It’s helping me to keep going forward.
How does it feel to debut inOlympics just 20 years?
It was a magic moment. My dream was to go to the olympics. Just to have the chance to participate. After that tournament, my dream was made and I had to find an other one. I thought immediately my next dream had to be the olympic medal!
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Do you feel more pressure to be captain of the Belgium Red Lions and Waterloo Ducks?
It’s pressure but I love to captain my team. It’s not always easy but I do that with a lot of passion. My aim is to put every players in the best conditions and to help them to be the best as they can.
How did you react to the knowledge that you were nominated for best player in the world of hockey?
I was honored of course. I already was in the top 5 last year and it always a pleasure to represent my team mates in this category.
It just amazing to be alongside the best players in the world. I will remember that I was the first belgian player in that top5 and now it’s for the second time. It’s just unbelievable
You are one of the few players who has the ability to score in the important moments, what was the most important goal for you?
I had a lot. For example:
- I scored in the last minute against Germany (2-2) at the European Cup in manchester to make an historical draw against the world champions. The game after we qualified against them for the olympics.
- I also scored a golden goal in the Belgian completion’s Play-Offs
- I scored some international goals in the last minute but my favorite was against India (3-2) at the World Cup 2014 when it was 17 second to play.
- I also scored the 2-1 in the World League semi-final in Antwerp against Ireland during the last minute.
We know that you have a firm caps are easy to combine the two things, namely, business and hockey?
It’s not easy but it’s exciting! Actually, I have 3 things to combine because I’m studying osteopathy at the university of Brussels as well.
I launched my new cap brand in September. It’s working ok and peoples like the concept and design. I invite you to visit my website www.cap10.be, we also have a Facebook Page « CAP10 » and an instagram account « @cap10headwear »
The Concept is to make caps for clubs and their supporters! it gives a nice atmosphere to so all the supporters and players wearing the same caps!
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What do you think when you retire from hockey?
I didn’t retire from hockey because I’m still playing for Waterloo Ducks. I'm also building a new project about hockey but I can’t tell you what it is for the moment :)
I still feel myself fit enough to play international hockey but I had to take a break after 12 years of full training and competition involvement.
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Thank you!!
