Anges Kopitaras Frau hat zum ersten Mal verraten, wie schrecklich es war.

Ines Kopitar, wife of Slovenian hockey star Anže Kopitar, has finally spoken openly about one of the most challenging periods of her life. In an interview with the American podcast The Cutting Edge, she revealed the emotional turmoil she experienced during a brief but intense span of time several years ago. This period was marked by a series of personal losses and upheavals that completely turned her daily life upside down.

The events began around a decade ago, when Ines lost both of her parents within a short period. Her father passed away from cancer in 2015, just weeks after her daughter was born—she had been approximately eight weeks pregnant at the time. Shortly thereafter, her mother-in-law also died. Just days later, Ines found out she was once again pregnant. “It was a huge amount of ups and downs,” she said. “It was complete chaos.”

During this time, Ines had to manage the responsibilities of caring for a newborn while dealing with grief and maintaining a relationship with Anže, whose career required frequent travel and long absences. She bore the majority of the burden alone. “It’s not easy, especially when there's a lot of stress—it doesn’t affect me as well as Anže does. If I have too much stress, I completely fall apart. That’s really scary.” Despite these challenges, Ines continued to care for their child even as Anže was away on his professional commitments. She explained how such a lifestyle demands immense patience and understanding, and sometimes it is difficult when he is absent for extended periods. “Sometimes it’s hard when he isn't here. When he comes home, he might be tired and in a bad mood, and I’m always there for him. Sometimes he needs some time to himself. But we still find ways to make things work.”

Even when Anže returns home, Ines acknowledges that life isn’t always as ideal as it seems. “Sometimes he comes back exhausted and in a bad mood, and I’m always there for him. Sometimes he really needs some time to himself. But we still find ways to make things work. He loves playing golf, so when he says he wants to play, I say, ‘Of course, go ahead. Even if we haven’t seen each other in fourteen days.’ Because I know he needs it. I don’t want to make him feel guilty. I tell him, ‘Go ahead, then we can have dinner together. We’ll prepare something good.’ He goes off to play golf, and I take part in family activities, encouraging the kids to have fun. It’s all about keeping the focus elsewhere so they don’t get the feeling that everything is wrong because he’s home.”

Through these family anecdotes, Ines made it clear that the relationship with a top athlete is built not only on love but also on mutual understanding and trust. At times, it means giving the partner space when needed, even if it would be preferable to spend more time together. She emphasized that such a lifestyle is not suitable for everyone. “You have to support your partner, trust them. This kind of life is tough and often requires being alone.”

Ines and Anže met in 2005 when they were both teenagers. Anže played for the Slovenian under-18 team and was soon selected by the Los Angeles Kings, where he remained until his retirement last year. Their romance developed quickly, leading to marriage in 2013 and the birth of two children. In the podcast, Ines touched upon the early stages of their relationship, which weren’t always smooth. Anže left for America shortly after they started dating, leaving Ines to finish high school. They spent most of their time together during summer vacations, and throughout the year, they managed expenses by sharing phone bills. Eventually, Ines joined Anže in the United States, and their relationship became a subject of public interest and media scrutiny.

“People used to say, ‘She’s with him just for money,’” Ines recalled. “But I’ve always said, ‘If you’re with someone just for money, you’ll pay for it with your tears.’ I don’t cry often, so…” She added, “When we first started going out, people immediately assumed, ‘Oh, she’s with him now that he’s in Los Angeles. She’ll collect all that money.’ I told them, ‘No. On our very first date, I paid for dinner.’”

As a successful entrepreneur in the field of aesthetic treatments, Ines has consistently supported Anže from the beginning. She admitted that she didn’t know much about hockey initially, as the sport wasn’t widely popular in Styria at the time. However, this did not hinder her support for Anže. From the start, she stood by him unconditionally.

The National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in North America, considered the premier and most prestigious hockey league in the world. Founded in 1917 in Canada, the NHL currently includes the best players from various countries. Players compete for the Stanley Cup, one of the oldest and most respected sports trophies in professional athletics. Winning the Stanley Cup represents the pinnacle of a player’s career for many hockey stars.