Pajpach: How I graduated
Eurolanche’s found out how Avalanche goalie prospect Maximilian Pajpach graduated.Right now, the Slovak city of Poprad is filled with graduation tableaus of high school graduates, much like any other town or city in Slovakia. Needless to say, one tableau stood out. The graduation tableau of the local grammar school had a surprising photograph in it – a photo of a hockey player in a Colorado Avalanche jersey. The photo showed none other, than Poprad native and Avalanche goalie prospect Max Pajpach, whom the Avs chose in last year’s entry draft.
Pajpach’s concentrating on his hockey career in Finland at the moment, where he’s under contract with the Tappara junior team. Pajpach’s missed the whole season because of an injury he sustained during preseason, although the injury hasn’t prevented Pajpach from training as hard as he could. He fought for his future – both on and off the ice. Max continued to study and in the end earned A’s in English, Slovak and Civics, and a B in Geography, the four being the subject he graduated in. “Education’s really important for me. I had a really lucky hand, because I chose questions that really suited me. During my oral exam in Slovak, I couldn’t hold back and laughed, because I chose the exact question I was telling the others I’d love to choose before I went inside the exam room,” told Pajpach Eurolanche.com.
His preparations began during the academic week, a week which the graduates get off before having their exams, during which he didn’t even leave the house. Because of his injury, which kept him out for the entirety of the season, he had more time than he thought he’d have. “It created a lot more room for studying, yet I was already practicing by then. I was learning, but I was also training at the same time,” said Pajpach, whose case could be an example for other young hockey players. Graduating is a necessity nowadays. Everyone can graduate, providing he’s willing to. “It isn’t something that can’t be done. I know a lot of guys that graduated while playing, but most of them were playing in the same city where they went to school. My case was a little specific in comparison,” said the young goalie, who also very thankful that his school helped him as much as possible. He repaid the school’s approach by being an excellent and responsible student.
Pajpach isn’t planning on going to college at the moment. It wouldn’t even be possible given the hockey conditions in Europe. He didn’t rule out playing in a college league if he’d be given an offer, but right now, Pajpach’s only goal is to get back into shape and fight for his dream of playing in the NHL. “I’m given awesome conditions and I’ve a great opportunity to prove myself, which I’m willing to seize.”
Photo source: Poprad24.sk
Michal Hezely, Slovakia, hezely@eurolanche.com
10/06/2015 - 23:30
