Csaba Kovács followed in his father’s footsteps, also called Csaba Kovács who was a long time defenceman for UTE and the Hungarian national team. Csaba Jr. played his youth hockey for UTE and then later MAC. He would spend his highschool years playing for the prestiges Athol Murray College of Notre Dame before coming back to Hungary and playing for the Fehérvár’s senior team. He would play 14 seasons for Fehérvár, 9 of them coming in the EBEL, he spent his final season with MAC Budapest in the MOL League. Csaba took time to talk to the Hungarian Ice Hockey Federation.
How did you come to conclusion to retire from hockey?
At the end of the season I started thinking about what else do I have going on in my life and what would be best not only for me but for my life as well. I was part of an extraordinary 15 years of Hungarian hockey. This was a great time period of my life and I am glad I was part of all of this.
During the summer you worked out every day as if you were getting ready for the next season.
When the summer started I did not know what I would decided to I wanted to be ready for everything that could possibly happen. I had decided at the beginning of July that I would call it quits but I kept on working out every day.
Were there teams in contact with you about playing for them next season?
I sat down with MAC at the end of the season and I let them know that we should not talk about anything concrete until I decide what I would like to do. I asked for some time for me to decide what I want to next year. The idea of playing for another team never came up.
What will you do next, will you be involved in hockey, aside from being a hockey dad?
Yes I am a hockey dad, and I will support them in their pursuit of hockey. I would like to stay close to the sport and possibly work in hockey eventually. I love this sport and the environment so much that I am sure the fans will see me around the ice rinks in the near future.
What was your most memorable moment both with the national team and your club career?
With the national team it would have to be winning promotion to the A-Pool and the two A-Pool World Championships will be something I am sure I will be telling my grandkids. I have great memories playing in Fehérvár, the Hungarian championships and the EBEL seasons. I made friendships that will last a lifetime.
