Ondřej Kaše | Photo: Jan Jindra, hcvl.cz
The first rumors about the upcoming transfer leaked in the hockey corridors half a year ago, since then Litvínov has kept all information strictly under wraps. Ondřej Kaše as a chemist? Kind of an open secret. Months of speculation and conjecture now come to an end: the North Bohemian club really detonated the transfer charge on Sunday evening.
First steps in the winter in Kadaň, then they grew up in Chomutov for great hockey. In a jersey with a pirate motif, both tasted the extra league for the first time, later went through the draft and headed overseas, where they fulfilled their big dream of the NHL title.
Now the paths of the Kaš brothers cross again, only in black and yellow colors. The arrival of the younger David received an official stamp at the end of April. Negotiations with his sibling dragged on, but shortly after mid-July, everything is black and white…
“Litvínov was my number one choice. I had other offers, but they didn’t make sense to me. I wanted to play with my brother and I also wanted to be closer to home,” explains Ondřej Kaše for Verva’s official website after signing a one-year contract.
The comeback of the predatory winger is a huge event for the entire region (and the competition). Sparta, Pardubice, or Třinec usually clear the waters on the player market, but Litvínov? Since the title season in 2015, you would probably look in vain for a more prominent item on the roster.
“Litvínov was my number one choice. I had other offers, but they didn’t make sense to me.’
Kaše can be the fighter who will change the face of the club from the smallest extra-league city. The chemists do not hide their higher ambitions, the new management is gradually building the team core in its own image. The way to the calmer waters of the table should be facilitated by a reinforcement with 258 starts in the NHL.
“We expect from him that he will be a significant impetus for our team and will help us to raise the overall quality of our team,” says CEO Pavel Hynek.
Ondřej Kaše | Photo: Jan Jindra, hcvl.cz
“I was attracted by the opportunity to take on the role of a leader,” agrees Kaše. He broke through the Atlantic in Anaheim, then tried Boston, Toronto and finally Carolina. And when he was healthy, he really showed leadership potential.
“I am convinced that he will add the necessary quality to the team at all levels. An average of almost half a point per game in the NHL is proof of that. I’m looking forward to working together,” reports Lithuanian coach Karel Mlejnek.
Speed, quality work with the stick, smell for goals – thanks to this, he earned respect in the most famous hockey league. In his second season with the Ducks alongside Ryan Getzlaf, he broke the twenty-goal mark and experts predicted a bright future for him.
“I am convinced that he will add the necessary quality to the team at all levels.”
Glimpses of solid production then alternated with long stays on the doldrums. Persistent problems with concussions slowed down the promising rise, even resulting in fear of a possible career end.
Who knows how many matches they lost in the shiny arenas of Kaše. First game for the Bruins? Boom, concussion. First game for the Hurricanes? Boom, concussion. A nasty injury haunts him like a curse.
Maybe that’s why he didn’t get back together with Toronto after a year of cooperation. And last year’s restart in Carolina? Although Kaše started training in a non-contact jersey in December, he did not jump on the bandwagon.
The state of health will be the main question mark in the future as well. “We all firmly believe that they will allow Ondra to fully return to hockey,” sports manager Tomáš Vrábel hopes.
“In that case, Litvínov got an above-standard player and a great professional in him. It is an excellent calling card of the club that a player of this level wants to connect his career with Litvínov,” Vrábela is pleased.
It’s no secret that making Kaše’s union with chemists was difficult. He reached a successful finish also due to the open wallet of the company STEBAL – the main partner of the club.
“We all firmly believe that Ondra’s health will allow him to fully return to hockey.”
“Thanks to the increase in support, we can afford players of this caliber. From our budget, we could not afford to implement the signing,” says CEO Hynek.
“Just as STEBAL has gradually worked its way up to the position of a leader in large-volume logistics, we believe that the HC VERVA team will also gradually work its way up to the highest levels of the extra league table,” adds Martin Stejskal, chairman of the company’s board of directors.
Verva’s expected transaction – at least for the time being – has sealed the squad for the upcoming year. At the start of the summer, the sports section was still looking for a difference defender and forward.
Now he has achieved: after hiring full-back Kevin Czuczman, he lured the fans to the September start of the top flight with a star acquisition with everything.
Current squad of HC VERVA Litvínov
Goalkeepers: Lukáš Klika, Matej Tomek, Šimon Zajíček.
Defenders: Ondřej Baláž, Marek Baránek, Patrik Demel, Jan Strejček, Radim Šalda, Denis Zeman, Kristaps Zile, Janis Jaks, Kevin Czuczman.
Attackers: Jindřich Abdul, Marek Berka, Michal Gut, Martin Havelka, Filip Helt, Nicolas Hlava, Ondřej Jurčík, David Kaše, Petr Koblasa, Andrej Kudrna, Marek Slavík, Lukáš Stehlík, Matúš Sukeľ, Jan Šprynar, Lukáš Válek, Pawel Zygmunt, Ondřej Kaše .
Arrivals:
David Kaše (Sparta Prague)
Petr Koblasa (Karlovy Vary)
Marek Baránek (Pilsen)
Lukáš Válek (Litoměřice)
Kevin Czuczman (Ilves, Finland)
Ondřej Kaše (Carolina Hurricanes, NHL)
Excrement:
Patrik Zdráhal (Lulea, Sweden)
Denis Godla (unknown)
Ralfs Freibergs (Hradec Králové)
Giorgio Estephan (unknown)
Josh Wesley (unknown)
Šimon Stránský (Ilves, Finland)
Jiří Fronk (Prostějov)
Petr Straka (Pilsen)
Ondřej Kaše and Pavel Hynek | Photo: Jan Jindra, hcvl.cz
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2023-07-16 16:21:00
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