KOŠICE/ZVOLEN – For hockey players HC Košice and HKM Zvolen, the final of the extra league will be the first mutual confrontation in the playoffs after 10 years. In the year 2012/2013, Zvolenčany succeeded, winning their second championship after a 4:1 victory.
In the series of the winner of the regular season against Zvolen, which took 3rd place, the Košice team is a slight favorite. The people from Košice triumphed in the long-term part after they got to the top of it only after the last round. The elimination battles started with a series against Nitra, in which they confirmed the position of the favorite and won 4:1 for the matches. They struggled more to progress in the semi-finals.
The excited players of Michaloviec, who previously eliminated Trenčín in the preliminary round and Slovan Bratislava in the quarter-finals, were defeated only after seven games. They led 2:0 in the series, but later lost 2:3, but with the imperative to win, they managed the sixth and seventh games. Their progress to the final was decided by Brett Pollock’s winning goal.
The seven-match semi-final was also completed by Zvolenčany, who also won the series, in which they were losing 2:3 for the matches. The hero of the decisive 7th match was Peter Zuzin, who scored the winning goal from a free kick. It was the first time since 2009 that both semifinal series went to the maximum number of games. It is curious that none of the finalists used a single power play in the semi-finals.
In the beginning of the playoff, the Electors managed to beat Nový Zámky 4:1. In the regular part, they did not finish and finally took 3rd place with a 9-point loss to Košice and a 6-point loss to Slovan Bratislava. The final series will be the sixth confrontation between Košice and Zvolen in the playoffs in the history of the Slovak extra league. The opening four were born in the semi-finals, while Zvolen managed to succeed in them only once – in the “lockout” season of 2004/2005.
Zvolen’s second playoff triumph over Košice came 10 years ago. Zuzin, defender Peter Hraško and Michal Chovan, who is already wearing the Košice jersey, were also in the squad at that time. From the Košice team, Dominik Riečický, Radek Deyl, Oliver Jokeľ and Marek Slovák remember the final against Zvolen.
It is interesting that both sports managers – Gabriel Spilar from Košice and Ladislav Čierny from Zvolen – were still active in 2013 and also played in the final.
For Košice, the final with Zvolen will be the first since 2015. Eight years ago, their streak of eight consecutive seasons with final participation ended. The “steelers” have reached the finals of the Slovak extra league for the sixteenth time in history, they have won eight titles so far.
The previous Košice final, completed with a title in 2015, was completed only by striker Marek Bartánus from the current squad. With a possible ninth title, Košice would equal Slovan Bratislava in the historical order. The chosen ones have triumphed three times so far (2001, 2013, 2021).
Mutual balance of matches in the ongoing season from the point of view of Košice: 2:5 (v), 4:3 pp, 4:6 (v), 2:1
Special for Chovan, the people of Košice are waiting for a more offensive series
In 2013, he won his only extra league title with Zvolen, this time he will try to conquer it as the captain of Košice. The final of the hockey extra league will be special for the captain of the “steel players” Michal Chovan, who, however, does not think about side circumstances and focuses on the performance of his own team.
The people of Košice expect different hockey in the title series than in the semi-finals, as Zvolen played a more offensive game than Michalovce during the season.
The Košice team reached the final after defeating Michalovce 3:1 in the decisive 7th match of the semi-final. No more than 5 goals were scored in any of the matches, which confirmed that the priority of both teams is defense. Against Zvolen, which was the most offensive team in the regular season with 168 goals scored, it could be more goal-rich hockey, although the importance of the matches will increase the emphasis on defense as well.
“It can be a bit more offensive hockey. However, it’s the playoffs, so it will be important to play from a secure defense. The performances of the goalkeepers, who have held us until now, will be key again. The players who were productive are now defending and throwing themselves into shots. you’re on our great team and we’re going after our goal,” said Michal Chovan, who is the captain of HC Košice for the third season.
Photo gallery (3)
Source: TASR/Roman Hanc
In his fourth season in Košice, he will play the final for the first time, coincidentally against Zvolen, where he grew up. He helped him to the title in 2013, this time he will try to beat him.
“It will be a specific series, but it’s still not the same as in the first season. I’ve been in Košice for the fourth year. We’re already looking forward to the final and we know it will be a tough series. I believe our team will handle it.” remarked Chovan, who remembers the final ten years ago. The chosen ones then won the regular season and confirmed their position as the biggest favorite in the playoffs.
This time, the “Steelmen” reached the first final since 2013. Even ten years ago, their team included Dominik Riečický, Radek Deyl and striker Oliver Jokeľ, according to whom the Košice – Zvolen final is expected.
“I think that before the play-off it was probably expected that Košice and Zvolen could be in the final. The play-off is played for four wins, both semi-final series were decided in the seventh game. Both finalists triumphed in it on home ice, so it turned out that it paid off for them to be high after the regular season.”
Forward Marek Hovorka is having an interesting season. He started it with Žilina, left in January and returned to Košice after five years. At the end of his career, he would like to achieve his first Slovak title. “Sometimes even the hoe shoots. It happened to me at the end of my career. I’m grateful for that and I’ll do everything for us to win.”
Zvolen is thinking about the 4th title
As soon as the hockey players of HKM Zvolen had time to enjoy the victory in the seven-game semi-final against Spišská Nová Ves, they already focused their attention on the final. According to forward Maroš Jedlička, the two strongest teams of the competition met in the fight for the title. The chosen ones will try to follow up on the final triumph over Košice ten years ago and at the same time repeat the championship celebrations from 2021.
The chosen ones reached the finals after defeating Spišská Nová Ves 3:2 on home ice in the decisive seventh game of the semi-finals. The hero of Zvolen’s progress was striker Peter Zuzin, who scored from a free kick in the 55th minute. Along with defender Petr Hrašek, he is one of the two current Zvolen players who played in the final 10 years ago.
Photo gallery (3)
Source: SITA/Jakub Julény
“It’s just getting started. I’ve never lost an extra league final. I hope we can do it,” remarked the two-time champion of SR. Both teams, Zvolen and Košice, reached the finals after turning the series from 2:3 to 4:3 in the semi-finals. The elected officials are aware of the strength of the opponent, with whom they had a balanced balance of 2 wins and 2 losses in the regular season.
“I don’t want to get ahead of anything. Košice has a quality team. Let’s be surprised how it turns out.” Zuzin remarked. The team from Košice managed to advance past Michalovce despite the fact that they did not use a single power play in seven games. Zvolenčany also had zero success in using their numerous advantages in the semi-finals, so it is obvious what they want to improve in the final.
“Against Nový Zámky, our power plays went well, against Spišská Nová Ves less so. We’ll see what advice the coaches give us.” stated Zuzin, who would like to help his parent club to its fourth title in history.
For 20-year-old forward Maroš Jedlička, it will be the second extraleague final, he was present in the winning streak against Poprad two years ago. He has no doubts about the strength of the Košice team.
“They are the two strongest teams in the extra league, so it will definitely be great for the fans as well. Košice did not have a good start to the season, but then they won in the regular season, so they definitely have strength. Even Michalovce did not play badly in the semi-finals. We will certainly not give them anything for free.” noted Jedlička.
- Author: © List
- Source: TASR
