Professional Players

“The camps at Hockey Talent Academy helped me on my way up. I started coming there when I was eight. I was there almost every weekend and went to every tournament. Jaromír Pytlík does an excellent job; I basically learned everything there that I can do today—skating and all the skills. HTA taught me a lot and I think it is the best hockey academy in the Czech Republic. I still like coming back to Telč to train with Jarda between NHL seasons. In the past year we also added gym work, where I have access to the latest functional-training equipment that helps my skating and my overall game on the ice.”

“I was fortunate to be there at the very beginning of HTA, when there were only a few of us and we trained in the backyard. Since then I have spent countless hours at HTA, both on and off the ice. This is where I built the foundations of my skating, hockey skills and approach to sport that I still draw on today. I am proud of how far HTA has come. When I return to the camps in summer or help as a coach, it gives me enormous joy. It is great to see kids with the same desire to improve that we had. It is a place that shaped me both as a hockey player and as a person.”

“I started coming to Jaromír Pytlík at HTA when I was about 11. I knew I could not get far without excellent skating, and because my skating was not particularly strong as a youth player, I chose the HTA program. We worked on it a lot and I improved significantly here. I remember that some exercises were difficult for me at first, but over time I got better and could feel the difference in my skating and movement in games. That is why I still regularly train in his programs between seasons, continuing to improve my movement in combination with other skills. Everything fits together in his programs, and the conditions in Telč are excellent.”

“This year was my first time coming to Jarda at Hockey Talent Academy in Telč. Before leaving for Russia, I spent about a month improving my skills with him, particularly skating and overall movement. I have to say that his specific exercises showed me there is always room to improve. I rate the month spent in Jaromír Pytlík’s training program very positively and I already know that I will contact him again after the season.”

“I am grateful that in Telč, under coach Jaromír Pytlík, I can improve not only my skating but practically every skill. Every HTA training session is prepared down to the smallest detail, follows modern trends and is delivered at the highest level. I enjoy learning new skating techniques as well as puck control and shooting. The on-ice exercises are varied, so I look forward to every session. I can feel how much it helps my development and keeps moving me forward. I am also glad to be able to train in such excellent facilities as the new hockey arena in Telč. I always enjoy coming back. Jaromír Pytlík clearly has a vision, and I am convinced that his Hockey Talent Academy offers the best training program in the Czech Republic.”

“I think Hockey Talent Academy is where I built the foundations of all the skills I still use today. When I first came to HTA, I definitely was not the best skater. Today, however, my game is built around skating, so I know how much the training helped me. I remember attending many camps. My dad drove me there, I made lots of friends and, most importantly, I had the chance to train with quality players. When you are surrounded by guys who are excellent, it motivates you to work even harder. You see what they do and try to match them. A large part of the training focused on skating. It was demanding, but looking back I can see that this is exactly what separates players. When you skate well, you have a huge advantage on the ice. Add high-quality skills and you are another step ahead. I am glad I went through all of it because it genuinely helped my hockey career.”

“I trained with Jaromír Pytlík in Telč throughout the summer, working on skills. It is great that I already had some foundations from him before going to the Devils and can continue building on them here. I can feel how much this preparation has helped me. Every player has something to improve—that is something everyone will tell you. Coach Jaromír Pytlík helped me a lot with my skating and showed me where I could progress; you can tell he understands it very well. I worked on short turns, exits from the corner and similar elements. I tried to improve my technique so I could become even faster and more confident.”

“I thought about it for a long time and decided to try Jaromír Pytlík’s program as part of my summer preparation. I joined his training group and can only speak highly of it. There is a lot of skating, the sessions are high-tempo and the training is world-class. I am satisfied and will be happy to come back.”