Tipsport Extraliga Preview (part two)

HC Vitkovice Steel

Club from Ostrava had to reduce the budget due to financial issues of its main partner Evraz Vitkovice Steel. In a view of this fact more players left out than came in. Moreover, hot adept for a position in the first line, Patrik Zdrahal, decided to move into QMJHL during summer. Coach Peter Oremus most regrets leaving of Lukas Klimek. After 6 years Victor Ujcik ended Vitkovice´s chapter and moved to Jihlava. Good news is that there are just a few changes in defense lines and no change on goalie position. Despite the fact that Vitkovice will start season with many junior players, their goals are pretty high. That means 6^th or better position at the beginning of play-offs.

Last year standings: 8^th place

Talented young players: Jan Stencel, Lukas Kuczera, Petr Kolouch, Jan Kana

Transfers out: Radim Hruska, Lukas Klimek, Tomas Voracek, Viktor Ujcik, Marek Malik, Denis Rehak, Patrik Zdrahal

Transfers in: Michael Vandas, Patrik Valcak, Martin Dudas

Most important players: Jiri Burger, Michal Barinka, Vladimir Svacina, Rudolf Huna

HC Mountfield

This team has experienced a busy summer. Due to dispute between club owner Mountfield Company and Ceske Budejovice City, Council club has moved to Hradec Kralove. The dispute started because Extraliga signed a contract with Radegast beer as main sponsor of league but the owner of Budvar Arena, Ceske Budejovice city, already had rightful contract with another brewery - Budvar. This meant Radegast could not sell their beer in this arena. That is why some called this conflict “the war of the beers”. Mountfield did not have to build a new team. Majority of team are players who played in Ceske Budejovice. Two important players have left the team. Ales Kotalik decided to stay in Ceske Budejovice and Czech national team goalie Jakub Kovar signed new contract with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. It will be interesting to watch rebirth of HC Mountfield but play-off is not sure.

Last year standings: 9^th place

Talented young players Pavel Kantor, Bohumil Jank, Tomas Knotek, Lubos Rob

Most important players: Jiri Simanek, Frantisek Ptacek, Rastislav Dej

HC CSOB Pojistovna Pardubice

The season 2012/2013 was terrifying for this club. The boards changed coach twice but it did not help. 2012 champions would like to experience totally different year. That is why team roaster has changed a lot. Club has got goal sniper Petr Sykora and tireless warrior Josef Marha. On the other hand, club has slight financial issues. Cub owes the city of Pardubice 17 million Czech crowns (which is approximately 658 thousands Euros). Due to this problem Pardubice could not afford superstar Tomas Rolinek. This will not decrease club´s ambitions. New coach Zdenek Venera is one of the most respected coaches in Czech. He is the one who can put the team right. 

Last year standings: 10^th place

Talented young players: Tomas Nosek, Robert Kousal, Michael Spacek, Jan Vesely

Transfers out: Jan Buchtele, Stanislav Hudec, Vladislav Koutsky, Trevis Gawryletz, Tomas Rolinek, Jiri Marusak, Martin Sagat, Martin Bartek, Pavel Brendl, Lukas Endal

Transfers in: Josef Marha, Petr Sykora, Blaz Gregorc

Most important players: Petr Sykora, Radovan Somik, Jiri Vasicek, Vaclav Benak

HC Kometa Brno

Faithful Kometa´s fans do not have good memories from the last season. They expected semifinals at least but the result was completely different. Even though Brno was in the middle of season on the top of standings, they lost 18 from 24 matches afterwards and ended up in play-out. Club board had to dismiss untouchable Coach Zdenek Venera. Major changes are in defense lines. Veterans Radim Bicanek, Robert Petrovicky and Roman Erat left the club. The last season Extraliga´s top defenseman´s scorers David Nosek and Libor Pivko will be the biggest asset for the team. Brno will not be missing this year’s play-offs and this team will be a big obstacle for every opponent.

Last year standings: 11^th place

Talented young players: Hynek Zohorna, Michal Kempny, Tomas Dujsik, Jan Kana

Transfers out: Jan Svrcek, Tomas Malec, Juraj Valach, Radim Bicanek, Radek Dlouhy, Roman Erat, Filip Krejcirik, Robert Petrovicky

Transfers in: David Nosek, Jan Hanzlik, Petr Kubos, Libor Pivko, Marek Ciliak, Michal Kempny

Most important players: Jiri Trvaj, Leos Cermak, Jakub Svoboda, Jan Hruska, David Nosek

HC Energie Karlovy Vary

Energie has gone through times. The budget is quite low and many of players who remember when Energie won championship are gone. 17 players left the team and only 6 came in! Karlovy Vary expects very difficult season. Play-offs will be more likely wishful thinking than real achievable goal. Team seems pretty young and nobody apart from Marek Hovorka and Martin Zatovic, did not make more than 20 points in the last season. Another disadvantage could be inexperienced Coach Richard Zemlicka. 

Last year standings: 12^th place

Talented young players: Petr Koblasa, Michal Vachovec, Jan Latal, Vojtech Tomecek

Transfers out: David Nosek, Jiri Bicek, Lukas Mensator, Lukas Pech, Petr Kumstat, Frantisek Skladany, Dustin Kohn, Martin Gründling, Jan Herman, Vojtech Kloz, Jan Kostal, Petr Pohl, Roman Prosek, Petr Prindis, Lukas Sablik, Vaclav Skuhravy, Radomir Vanek

Transfers in: Radim Hruska, Radim Bicanek, Radek Dlouhy, Marek Hovorka, Martin Latal, Ondrej Smach

Most important players: Martin Zatovic, Marek Hovorka, Radim Bicanek, Tomas Zavorka

Bili Tygri Liberec

In the beginning of the last season was Liberec one of the adepts for championship title. Nevertheless, whole season was just nightmare but with happy end. Liberec had to protect his membership in Czech major league. Bili Tygri were successful but no one from the roaster wants to go through this experience anymore. New players seem very promising. Some of them have great names in Extraliga. For example Martin Bartek was last year top scorer in Pardubice or Petr Vampola, who is 2010 World Champion. For these reasons Bili Tygri are expecting calm season with play-offs on the end. 

Last year standings: 13^th place

Talented young players: Pavel Zacha, Tomas Filippi, Tomas Voracek, Filip Pyrochta

Transfers out: Peter Galambos, Lukas Vantuch, Tomas Vosvrda, Radek Duda, Jiri Moravec, David Stich

Transfers in: Jakub Valsky, Tomas Voracek, Marcel Melichercik, David Stich, Koba Jass, Petr Vampola, Jiri Hunkes, Martin Bartek

Most important players: Petr Nedved, Martin Bartek, Martin Cakajik, Marek Schwarz

Pirati Chomutov

Last year’s Extaliga newcomer started the season very well but in the second part Pirati ran out of gas and ended up on the last place of total standings. Chomutov saved Extraliga´s membership and afterwards club boards started preparation for new season immediately. Chomutov terminated contracts or did not extend contracts with expensive but average players. The biggest asset might be Slovakian veteran player Lubos Bartecko who has been also named as new team Capitan. Club’s goal is to end up at better position than 13^th place. With respect to current roaster this should be realistic purpose.

Last year standings: 14^th place

Talented young players: Ondrej Kase, David Kampf, Marek Racuk, Tomas Bartejs

Transfers out: Michal Duras, Milan Rehor, Miroslav Zalesak, Milan Kraft (end of career), Jaroslav Hafenrichter, Petr Machacek, Brett Palin, Milan Prochazka

Transfers in: Josef Balej, Tomas Malec, Jaroslav Svoboda, Lubos Bartecko, Andre Lakos, Martin Sagat

Most important players: David Hruska, Lukas Pulpan, Lubos Bartecko, Matus Kostur       

 

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