The Dunaújváros born goalie has left MAC Újbuda after one season. Rajna represented Hungary in six World Championships including the A-Pool tournament in 2016 and has dressed in 83 national team games. Rajna made his pro debut during the 2007-08 season before making the move to the Budapest Stars the following year. During his three season stint with the Stars he won a league title in 2009-10. He would end up moving back home for one season and then moved across Fejér County to play in Székesfehérvár for the next six seasons. In the summer of 2018 he left Fehérvár and the EBEL for MAC and the Extraliga. He will be staying in the Extraliga but moving to rival club DVTK in Miskolc.
How did the idea of switching clubs come up?
I wanted to play in a club where i had more of a responsibility with the team, and where I was more of a leader in the team with a larger role. MAC wanted to kpee me for next season and through my agent a number of other clubs were interested in my as well. I think that being the number one goalie in the Extraliga is a great opportunity for me. Hungarian goalies there are not many chances to play abroad. The offers that I had from outside of Hungary were not from leagues that are as strong as the Slovak Extraliga or financially they were not on the same level as what I received from DVTK.
How much does it help that you already have a year of experience playing in the Extraliga?
I’m sure it will help since I am familiar with most of the arenas in the league. It makes it easier if you are playing in a league where you know where you are going and you are familiar with the sourdings. It will be different from the travel point of view as I was familiar with how long the trips were from Budapest to Kassa or to Érsekújvár. Now I will have to become readjusted, but overall I think it is positive that I am signing with DVTK.
What do you know about your new head coach Marcel Rodman?
Before I signed my contract, I had talked to him on the phone. He said that he wanted me on his team, he had asked around and did his research about me both in Hungary and abroad. He feels that I fit in to the picture that he is putting together with DVTK both on and off the ice. He said that he has a positive impression about me. I had a great talk with him and I can only say good things about him.
There will be a number of familiar faces in DVTK in fact there are players that you grew up with, how much will the transition to a new club be easier?
This will be a bit of a different situation than last year when I signed with MAC. Last year there were only a few guys that I had played with in the past, but for a large part there were new players to get to know. I was positively surprised in a number of players once I got to know them and I got along with everyone even better than I would have expected. This is now a different situation since I have played with all of the Hungarian players either or the club level or at the national team. We are good friends, our girlfriends and wives are also friends, so it will be easier for me to fit in and faster to feel a part of the locker room. I know that I will be in a good environment and I know what I can bring to the team. I can’t wait for the season to start.
How will you be preparing for the upcoming season?
I have received the offseason workout program from the team. I will be spending time both in Budapest and in Dunaújváros getting ready for the season. The DVTK strength and conditioning coach, Szilveszter Orosz out together a separate workout plan for the goalies. Which is more goalie specific, now I will do everything according to that. I will be going to a manual therapist who will be helping me get over the smaller injuries and issues that I have as well as with mobility and flexibility.
