It would be good to start at the same time on Sunday, do a big promo and be a show for the fans. Instead, we now have one game on Thursday, six more on Friday and then again on Sunday. I just think the extra league deserves a much more lavish event at the start.
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What I am looking forward to is the huge battle of the extra-league goalkeepers. We have Furcha in Kometa, Willa in Pardubice, Kovář in Sparta, Mazan in Třinec, Hrachovin in Budějovice; which is incredible power in the position of goalkeeper in the first teams. It will be a pleasure to watch them, we haven’t had such a boom in the league for a long time.
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Jakub Kovář, Sparta goalkeeper, in action.Photo: Vit Šimánek, CTK
Sparta should feel like the extra league favorite this year. Yes, Chlapík, Dvořák or Pavelka, for example, left it. But I think she realized that it is not possible to pay so many stars in the long run, especially when the expensive team did not bring her the title anyway.
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Sparta may not be as strong as the names suggest, but it can be an even more dangerous team game. It has its stars, powerful players. And what’s more, guys like Simon who want to restart their careers in the extra league, or those who want to prove themselves. I wouldn’t underestimate Sparta at all, it’s not about names at all. Although I admit that the disappointment for the last “non title” in Sparta will be felt.
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We are all waiting to see what will happen in Třinec without manager Varadi, for whom the league hat-trick was highly appreciated. After a certain time, the team always breaks up and new faces have to be found, which is what coach Moták is waiting for.
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Třinecký Martin Růžička.Photo: Jaroslav Osana, CTK
The departure of D. Musil and Kundrátek is a huge and fundamental loss, but Kuba Jeřábek can help a lot in defense. Despite the departure of the Kovařčík brothers, Vrána, Růžička and Hrňa remained in the attack and know how to win. But they need to find other guys to support them. However, I am convinced that the Steelers will once again be among the favorites of the competition.
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Pardubice certainly looks like a favorite. Dynamo celebrates its centenary, its owner Petr Dědek wants to follow the path of the best Czech players and proves that he has the resources for them. On paper, their squad looks the strongest after the arrivals of Will, Čeresňák, Radil, Hyka, the brothers Musil or T. Zohorna, and Radim Rulík, who started as a top manager, knows what to expect. It was a good move to bring him in, he has a very good knowledge of hockey and is able to work anywhere.
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The new Pardubice manager Radim Rulík.Photo: David Tanecek, CTK
I’m curious how Pardubice will handle, because there will be tremendous pressure on the players and management to be successful. In this I see the danger that the manager does not want to fly into the cabin after a certain failure and show everyone how strong he is and that he is in control.
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But when I see the names of the players and their experience, I personally think they can do it. They are not bad guys who would not be able to suppress personal ambitions for team success. Indeed, they are smart guys and Pardubice could easily attack the final.
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I will also stop at the opposite pole of the table. Kladno and Karlovy Vary will have major problems avoiding a draw, even if they are already playing at home after a year of kindergarten in Chomutov. I’m not sure they will be able to continue the style of play with which they were able to surprise their opponents in previous years. Also because they no longer have the striker Fleko and the coach Pešout, who left for Kometa.
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I am curious to know how it will be with the attendance, if the spectators find their way to the auditorium despite the economic crisis. The political elite are not very fond of sports; not only the national one, but also the municipal one. Sport is second nature to them, so fans can help him more. I believe that people will support their favorite clubs by coming in the winter, because in the current crisis situation, hockey is one of the sports that is in the worst conditions.
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Milan Antos
Milan Antoš is a former hockey striker, now co-commentator of the coach. He played twelve seasons in the Czech extra league, playing for Slavia, Pilsen, Jihlava and Ústí nad Labem. He won the title with Pražany in 2003 and bronze in 2000, silver with West Bohemia four years later.
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