"This is my direction now," says Stastny.
Stastny always has been a major political force in his homeland.
Slovakia used to be part of Communist-ruled Czechoslovakia. The Czech government was controlled by the Soviet Union and dissent was frowned upon. The Czech National hockey team was dominated by Czechs, but made room for Slovak players through a quota system. There were never no more than three Slovaks on the team at any given time.
Stastny and his brother Anton were stars with the Czech team, but defected to Canada in 1980 to play for the Quebec Nordiques. Their defection story read like a Robert Ludlum novel. The Stastnys were secreted out of Prague under the cover of night and were taken to Vienna, where they were moved from car to car and hotel to hotel while Czech security forces searched for them.
Their decision to leave was a slap in the face at the Communists, but it wasn't widely reported in Stastny's homeland. His countrymen learned of the move from reports carried on North American and British shortwave stations. Their brother Marian joined them in North America a year later.
Fast forward the tape to the early 1990s. Communism has collapsed and Czechoslovakia has split into Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Stastny fondly recalls people gathering around bonfires to celebrate their freedom and independence. Slovakia became an independent country in 1993 and a year later, when Slovakia made its debut as an Olympic member, it was Stastny who was the country's first flag bearer at the 1994 Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway. Your correspondent has vivid memories of tears streaming down Stastny's face as he proudly waved Slovakia's flag as he and his countrymen marched in the opening ceremonies.
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"I am very passionate about being patriotic and my relationship with my country and my homeland." -Peter Stastny
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Stastny also interrupted his NHL career to help Slovakia climb the ladders of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Because it had no history in international tournaments, Slovakia had to start on the bottom wrung and work its way up and Stastny was there every inch of the way as the Slovaks climbed up to the top A Pool. So when asked to serve his country in a political capacity, Stastny knew it was something he had to do.
"It is a matter of the heart. I am very passionate about being patriotic and my relationship with my country and my homeland," he says. "I have always liked politics. This isn't a sudden thing for me. I have always loved politics. I like politics. I like business and I like hockey."
Stastny remembers the tough times in his homeland of 5 million went through after it gained independence and he measures it with the solid footing both economically and politically Slovakia is on now.
"It used to be like the wild wild west and there was a lot of injustice and a lot of incompetence and I really believe after 24 years of living in Canada and the United States I have a pretty good ideas how things work.
"We have a lot of catching up to do in some areas. We are a young country and we are transforming and reforming and this is a crucial time for Slovakia and we need the people who have experience and who have the passion for the country. If you have some knowledge and skills and abilities to help, you should help. I took it as a call to help the country."
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"I have always loved politics. I like politics. I like business and I like hockey." -Peter Stastny
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The EU expanded by 10 countries on May 1 and it now has 25 member countries, representing 450 million people and an $11 trillion economy. Battles over subsidies, the euro and the EU's ties to the U.S. will, if anything, intensify.
Stastny wants to be in the middle of it and he's ready to fight for his turf, just like he did in the slot when he staked out his territory in an NHL game.
"It is a very exciting time. Finally all those structures that were there for centuries and centuries, finally they are falling and there are things getting intertwined and interconnected that will benefit everybody, and just not economically,? says Stastny. "Things will improve for people of my country. It will be safer for them and more freedom for the people. It is great for mankind.
"It is a strengthening of democratic principles and Europe in the past, there were a lot of divisions and we have taken care of the most dangerous ones. Therefore you have less friction and more focus to do the things that can help the general prosperity of the countries involved. This is something I have been preparing for the last 35 years. "
Stastny remains very much a hockey man. He will be general manager of Slovakia's World Cup of Hockey team and he has keeps a keen eye on the country's development system. He sees similarities between political life and running a hockey team.
"It is about leadership. It is about direction and this (political life) is basically based on the same principles and the same values and the experiences I have. I have accomplished a lot of things (in hockey) and now I want to accomplish things for my country and for all Europe.
"This is perfect for me. I am pretty good in building within the infrastructure and building the foundation that later on you can build other prosperities. We want to connect Slovakia to the world, open the door and strengthen the democratic principles. I think I can build a consensus."
With that, Stastny checked the rosters of the upcoming game and headed down the corridor to the dressing room.
And soon he could be walking through the corridors of power of European politics.
