Sports News

Prague's new state-of-the-art ice hockey arena saw its first game on Sunday, when Slavia Prague took on Hame Zlin in the third game of the Extraliga playoff finals. In the NHL, Patrik Elias was the Czech player with the most points in the regular season. In football news, Sparta Prague have played their first game under new coach, and former Sparta star, Frantisek Straka. Elsewhere, Ostrava slipped up at Zlin while Olomouc have gone second, at least for a short time.

Sports News

Zlin beat Slavia in playoffs in first game at new ice hockey arena

Slavia Prague - Hame Zlin, photo: CTK

Prague's new state-of-the-art ice hockey arena saw its first game on Sunday, when Slavia Prague took on Hame Zlin in the third game of the Extraliga playoff finals. The best-of-seven series had been tied at 1:1 going into Sunday's game, though "home" advantage didn't help defending champions Slavia, who were beaten 2:1. All of those goals came in the final period, with Zlin's Martin Harmlik getting the winner five minutes from full time.

Huge demand for tickets for first game at Vysocany arena

The new arena, which will host the Ice Hockey World Championships in just a couple of week's time, made perhaps more headlines than the game itself. Demand for tickets for the hall in Prague's Vysocany was huge, with over 13,000 fans reportedly coming from all around the country to be at the historic game. Ticket touts had a field day, charging desperate fans many times the face value of tickets, according to press reports.

Elias Czech top-scorer in NHL, sixth overall

In the NHL Patrik Elias was the Czech player with the most points in the regular season. The Trebic-born forward picked up 81 points in 82 games, with 38 goals and 43 assists. Elias came sixth in the league's points standings. Robert Lang - who had led the points table several times- finished ninth after picking up an injury towards the end of the season. Meanwhile, Jaromir Jagr has picked up a slight groin injury, though he is expected to be fit for the World Championships in Prague.

Straka gets off to winning, if unattractive, start at Sparta

Frantisek Straka, photo: CTK

In the Czech football league all eyes were on Sparta Prague on Sunday, as the title holders played their first game under new coach, and former Sparta star, Frantisek Straka. Straka got a hero's welcome from Sparta's supporters, though his side were less than impressive against relegation-threatened Blsany. It may not have been pretty, but Sparta took all three points after Rastislav Michalik scored the only goal of the game - and his first goal for the club - on 69 minutes.

Ostrava lucky to take one point at Zlin

Banik Ostrava - Zlin, photo: CTK

However, Sparta remain in fourth place and eight points behind leaders Banik Ostrava, who were lucky to take even one point from their encounter with Zlin on Saturday: Miroslav Matusovic scored from the penalty spot five minutes into time added on to level the score at 1:1 after Zlin had led for most of the second half. Olomouc, meanwhile, are second in the table after beating Liberec 2:0, though they will be overtaken by Slavia if they can overcome Brno on Monday evening. A win for the Prague club would leave them just four points behind Ostrava with six rounds of the league to go.