Patrik Reluctant | Photo: hc-vitkovice.cz
Patrik Zdráhal, a member of the wider national team, is returning to Vítkovice after an unsuccessful stay in Sweden. He has signed a long-term contract with his parent club, Ridera announced via the official website.
“After my end in Sweden, the owner of the club, Mr. Aleš Pavlík, contacted me personally and we directly discussed the possibility of my return to Vítkovice,” recounts the 28-year-old striker.
“It was obvious that he cared about me a lot, which decided that I was back here at home. I’m really looking forward to playing for Vítkovice again,” he adds
Patrik Reluctantly
attacker, 28 years old
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He last defended the blue and white colors during the 2019/20 season. After a short anabasis in Pilsen, he subsequently settled in Litvínov, where he recorded the greatest progress of his career and again made it all the way to the national team.
“After I finished in Sweden, the owner of the club, Mr. Aleš Pavlík, contacted me personally.”
Next to the Canadian center Giorgio Estephano, he was one of the main characters of the black and yellow offensive every year. Personal best? The second season in the north of Bohemia was embellished by Zdráhal with 42 Canadian points (20+22).
However, last year – also due to health problems – his performances stagnated slightly. That’s why he decided to try a new challenge: he played with the Swedish team Luleå HF for the next two years.
But…
Under coach Thomas Berglund, he spent time on the edge of the lineup, the fast-footed winger’s ice time gradually dropped to zero. And after eight games, Zdráhal said goodbye to Scandinavia.
The availability of the owner of 24 representative starts was probed by several clubs, Litvínov or Mladá Boleslav were eminently interested. Nevertheless, Vítkovice dominated the battle behind the curtain.
“We were in intensive contact for three days, and I am very happy that Patrik decided to wear the Vítkovice jersey again. He is an educated, quality hockey player, representative, he has a lot of experience,” owner Pavlík is delighted.
“He is a pupil, a quality hockey player, a representative, he has a lot of experience.”
“We simply couldn’t let such a player get away. I believe that he will do well here and that thanks to his help, Vítkovice will return to a successful wave,” he hopes.
Will Zdráhal’s return be the factor that turns the Riders’ current momentum around? The Ostrava club is in dire straits on the threshold of the new season: with a gain of just seven points, it lives at the very bottom of the extra league table.
Patrik Zdráhal’s goals in the 2022/2023 season
“I personally and everyone at the club are very happy that Patrik has decided to join us and we believe that he will become one of the leaders and key members of our team,” sports director Roman Šimíček added on the website hc-vitkovice.cz.
“Patrik was and is an excellent hockey player, who has also gained a lot of experience in recent years,” emphasizes the new member of the coaching group.
“We believe that he will become one of the leaders and key members of our team.”
However, Vítkovic supporters will have to wait for some time for the renewed premiere, as all the formalities will probably not be resolved before Friday’s clash with Liberec.
“Of course, our aim is to have him join the game as soon as possible, but it will take some time, also with regard to administrative and logistical matters,” informs Šimíček.
Current squad of HC VÍTKOVICE RIDERA
Goalkeepers: Denis Irgl, Lukáš Klimeš, Matěj Machovský.
Defenders: Juraj Mikuš, Mário Grman, Lukáš Kovář, Willie Raskob, Matěj Prčík, Jakub Stehlík, Stuart Percy, Petr Gewiese, Vojtěch Zeleňák, Yohann Auvitu.
Attackers: Marek Kalus, Petr Fridrich, Petr Chlán, Roman Půček, Vojtěch Lednický, Josef Krejsa, Peter Krieger, Rastislav Dej, Valentin Claireaux, Dominik Lakatoš, Jakub Ślusarczyk, Roberts Bukarts, Jakub Kotala, Matěj Přibyl, Peter Mueller, Jan Káňa, Patrik Zdráhal .
Tipsport extraliga table
TeamZVVPPPPScorePoints 1. HC Dynamo Pardubice 9 7 0 2 0 37:20 23 2. HC VERVA Litvínov 9 7 1 0 1 34:22 23 3. HC Sparta Prague 9 5 2 0 2 30:18 19 4. HC Oceláři Třinec 9 4 1 1 3 28:26 15 5. Banes Motor České Budějovice 9 4 1 1 3 21:22 15 6. Mountfield HK 9 3 1 3 2 26:21
14
7. HC Kometa Brno 10 4 1 0 5
23:26
14
8. White Tigers Liberec 9 3 2 0 4 26:30 13 9. HC Energie Karlovy Vary 8 4 0 0 4 24:20 12 10. HC Olomouc 9 3 0 2 4 18:26 11 11. BK Mladá Boleslav 9 2 1 0 6 22:30 8 12. Rytíři Kladno 9 1 2 1 5 20:31 8 13. HC Škoda Plzeň 9 2 0 1 6 16:23 7
14.
HC VÍTKOVICE RIDERA
9
1
1
2
5
21:31
7
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2023-10-13 09:19:00
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