HC MOUNTFIELD

Jan Vodicka passed away

Fomer Czech goalie Jan Vodicka passed away at 82 after losing a battle with severe disease. Vodicka was the first goalie in Czechoslovakia to use a glove and a pionner in using mask. He played 12 seasons for Ceske Budejovice and three in TJ Tankista Praha. Vodicka also earned 12 caps with national team, playing at 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina

Coaches move in Czech Republic and Slovakia

Former Avangard Omsk experienced Rostislav Cada is the new coach of Slovan Bratislava. Cada will lead Slovak team in its first season in KHL. LEV Poprad coach Radim Rulík won't follow the team's relocation in Prague. He signs with Extraliga runner up HC Kosice.
In Czech Republic, František Výborný leaves Ceske Budejovice and signs for Mlada Boleslav while Milan Vrzal left Sparta Praha coaching staff to take the lead of Stadion Litomerice in First Division

Ceske Budejovice hires three former players as staff

After a disappointing season Ceske Budejovice decides to change the coaching staff hiring three former players: former NHLer Roman Turek was named new goalies´coach. He will work also in the marketing area due to his recognized fame. Petr Sailer hangs up the skates and becomes new sport manager´s assistant. Finally Radek Belohlav will work in the coaching staff. He was player/coach at Second Division Pisek this season. "Radek is about to start coaching career, he follows modern trends and highlights the hard work of players in the training process. That we like and want to combine his work in collaboration with a more experienced coach. We will appoint him at the beginning of summer, as well as the new sport manager" says chairman Zdenek Blazek.

European Trophy schedules

European Trophy announced today the schedule for the 2012/13 season. Find the complete fixture list here.

Czech Extraliga game postponed due to crash

Today´s Czech Extraliga game between Vítkovice and České Budějovice will start later. The team from České Budějovice was stuck in a traffic jam and has arrived late. Originally scheduled to start at 17:30 CET, the opening faceoff will now take place at approximately 18:15, according to the latest estimations the first face-off could take place at 18:15. The situation occured because of a multi-car crash on the highway near Olomouc. The bus with the team was stuck in the jam and was unable to arrive in Ostrava in time.

Start of Czech Extraliga postponed

Originally, Tipsport Extraliga would start this Friday, Sep 16, with seven games. Because of Yaroslavl jet crash all the first round games are postponed. "Jan Marek, Karel Rachůnek and Josef Vašíček were friends of many Czech Extraliga players. Their friends would be unable to attend Jan Marek's funeral if we will make them play hockey on Friday," Czech Extraliga head commisioner Stanislav Šulc said. New dates for the games is unknown, the clubs will arrange date of their 1st round games themselves.

The Czech top-level ice hockey competition will start on Sunday, Sep 18, with games of the second round.