Kert Park’s Reign Continues with Their Seventh Title! Hostivař Achieves an Impressive Second Place

The final of this season's CROSSDOCK Extraliga is over. In the decisive match, Hostivař held a three-goal lead, but just one second before the second break, the visitors began their comeback. They completed it with just under two minutes remaining in the third period, securing their seventh title.

HBC Hostivař vs. HC Kert Park Praha 3:4 (2:0, 1:1, 0:3)

Goals and assists: 5. Čejka (Kudela), 7. Diviš (Taufer, J. Vaniš), 16. Lehner (Kucharčík) – 30. Plzák (M. Kruček, Jágr), 32. Vaněk (Plzák, M. Kruček), 34. Kovárník (Suchánek, Mejzlík), 44. Zvonek (M. Kruček).

Shots: 21:19, penalties: 5:3, power plays: 3:4, conversions: 0:1, shorthanded goals: 0:0, spectators: 561.

Players from the Prague teams took to the rink for the decisive final match in front of 561 fans, who had plenty to watch from the first face-off as Kert Park threatened immediately. However, it was Hostivař who opened the scoring in the fifth minute when Jan Čejka, left unmarked at the blue line, received a pass and skated in front of the net to score. Less than two minutes later, Jan Diviš doubled the lead for Hostivař from the left circle. With just under five minutes left in the first period, the first penalty was called, and the visitors had a power play, which was shortened due to too many players on the ice for Kert Park. The score remained unchanged before the first break, and Hostivař went into the next period with a two-goal lead.

The visitors did not start well in the second period, and from close range, Petr Lehner extended Hostivař’s lead to three goals on his second attempt. Both teams then played on the power play, but neither capitalized. It seemed that the visitors would carry a three-goal deficit into the third 15-minute period, but just one second before the break, Lukáš Plzák began the visitors' comeback.

Kert Park continued to close the gap early in the third period when Radomír Vaněk reduced the score to a one-goal difference from between the circles, and in the 34th minute, Jakub Kovárník tied the game. Hostivař then took a timeout, and the battle for the title continued until the end. With just under five minutes left in the third period, the penalty box door opened for the visitors, but soon after, it also opened on the other side, and both teams had a shortened power play. In the 44th minute, Dalimil Zvonek scored in this situation. The home team complicated things with a penalty, but they continued to fight. They didn’t add another goal, but they can still celebrate an outstanding achievement, having won silver medals after finishing first in the regular season. Kert Park dominated our top ball hockey league for the seventh time, continuing to set records.

Coach Reactions:

Jan Krtička (HBC Hostivař): We started the game well. We were up 3:0, and unfortunately, we couldn’t hold it. That’s sports, and that’s the way it goes. Congratulations to our opponents; they are good. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the referees for the entire season; sometimes they have a tough time with us coaches. I also want to thank the entire coaching staff and the players for their work throughout the season.

David Kuna (HC Kert Park Praha): Anyone who saw the game knows how it went. Things didn't start well for us, even though I think we started the game quite well. Right at the beginning, we were active and had some chances. Unfortunately, due to our silly mistake with a poor line change, we let the home team take the lead, and then we failed to cover well in the defensive zone, so they were up 2:0. Things weren't looking good for us, especially when early in the second period we conceded a third goal due to another poor line change, so we were a bit under pressure. But I think we then took some risks and knew we needed at least one goal by the end of the second period. We made slight changes to the formations, shuffled things a bit, and tried to spark the lines. In the end, one of our most experienced players, Lukáš Plzák, scored an important goal to make it 3:1 just before the end of the second period, which helped and motivated us going into the third period. We changed up the lines, and we managed to pull off a great feat by tying the game through our desire to win and not giving up. The finish was neck and neck, and luck was slightly on our side, as Dalimil Zvonek’s skill secured the win for us. We’ve won the title for the seventh time in a row. I think anyone who understands this sport will recognize that it’s something incredible and unique, and all credit goes to everyone who was part of this journey with us this year, as we basically had a nearly new team again, with many new and young players, and in the end, we managed to win in every competition we entered this year.