Thunder throws lightning on the ice. He’s nicknamed Butcher! Behind the hockey curtain, however, Radko Gudas (34) is a laid-back guy, a priceless dad, a heartthrob and an orchardist: “I enjoy sitting in the tractor and doing something,” he said before the holidays in the village!
Lie down under a tree in the tall grass, put a straw in the corner and enjoy divine peace. This is his home. The hockey player cultivates a relationship with nature even in his four children.
Where did it come from in you?
“Dad was abroad for the whole season and we came to the cottage for the summer. Grandmothers had houses with gardens, nice by the woods. I have always had a positive attitude towards nature. Go for mushrooms, repair the road with grandpa. I enjoyed that.’
You and your family settled in your grandfather’s native region near Beroun
“When there was an opportunity to buy a few pieces of land and forest, to clean it up a bit, we took advantage of it. We want to make it nice around us, because no one cared about it.”
And are you doing well?
“We are trying. For example, we built a nice playground, but passers-by stole it from us. Nothing can be done. We try not to notice it and continue to make life more pleasant for children. My father-in-law and his brother-in-law rebuilt the playground there over the winter.’
You also have a set. Do you make your own brandy?
“Clearly. We already have a few vintages. We collect the fruit and leave it in the distillery. It’s something else when you taste your own slivovica. There is a story behind it, a description of our village. We enjoy being able to take care of it. Our little loves, I should say.’
Is the taste okay?
“Yeah. We don’t have the quantum, so we care. We carefully select plums for burning. We don’t put everything out there. We are often helped by children who don’t know why they sort and eat half the fruit. (smile) But that’s about it. Grandmothers also have blackberries, strawberries, raspberries in their garden. What you pluck yourself is the best.’
You talked about the forest. Hunting doesn’t appeal to you?
“But yeah. Wild boars walked on one side of the property. We are a short distance from Lán, where there are fallow deer, deer, and lots of animals. Many of my relatives are interested in hunting and have guns. Sometimes we go to shoot pigeons. I like it. When we come back here for good, maybe I’ll buy a flint of my own.”
Do you have a gun pass?
“I do not have. I didn’t do it in 2020. I missed it by one question and then he had to fly overseas. It’s a long process. I’ll leave it after my career to focus on that.’
In America, you are nicknamed Butcher. Are you able to cut up, for example, a chicken for soup?
“No. We do have chickens, but not for meat for lunch. More like eggs. The sheep mow the garden perfectly again.”
That must be amazing. Hemenex from own eggs in the morning…
“Great. The eggs are smaller and much yellower. Completely different from the one bought.”
You are also known to be a fabulous dancer. Would you cut your career after Star Dance?
“At all. I enjoy dancing, but not strolling around. I don’t need that. I want to enjoy it and not do something out of compulsion. More for personal reasons, so that I can move when my wife drags me out to a ball somewhere.”
Standard or Latin?
“Mostly standard. I didn’t really like Latin, because I don’t have the hips for it at all.’
When did you get hooked on dancing?
“After the dance, a few guys and I decided to continue. There was a great club in Beroun. It gave us some life experiences. I won’t get lost on the dance floor.”
For it to work on him, there has to be a spark between the partners, right?
“Definitely. And that’s why I only dance with my wife.”
What about figure skating, would you be good at that?
“The older daughter was skating. That’s enough for me. But when I started playing hockey, I also went to figure skating training. But it was more to be on the ice than to try pirouettes.’
Did you have hockey skates?
“Clear.”
Wouldn’t it work with »teeth«?
“I don’t know if I’d rather break my handle.”
A team of champions
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RADKO GUDAS (34)
Born: June 5, 1990 in Prague
Position: Defender Club: Anaheim Ducks Family: Wife Barbora, sister Karolina, mother Radomíra and father Leo
Children: Leontýnka (9), Kvído (7), Elvíra (4), Frida (2)
Achievements: World Champion (2024), Stanley Cup Finalist with Florida (2023), AHL Winner with Norfolk (2012)
Radko Gudas, professional hockey player, world champion and farmer for pleasure.
Topics: village, gudas, home, slivovice, hockey, Prague, America, Chicago, Washington DC, Radko Gudas, Beroun, forest, tractor, National Hockey League, ice hockey, Hockey on Heureka.cz