Czechoslovak Super Cup Delivered Exciting Matches! Czech Teams Fell Short Despite High Effort

The last weekend of October brought two thrilling matches in the Czechoslovak Super Cup at Prague's Lužiny. Fans were treated to high-quality hockeyball in both games, yet it was the Slovak teams who emerged victorious this time.

HC Kert Park Praha vs. HBK PROTEF Považská Bystrica 1:5 (0:2, 1:1, 0:2)

Goals and assists: 29. Vaněk (Zvonek) – 10. Hryzák (Straka, Korbáš), 13. Urbánek (Martinka), 25. Šamaj, 39. Botka (Korbáš, Straka), 45. Kendera.

Shots on goal: 40-24, Penalties: 8-8, Power plays: 5-5, Conversions: 1-2, Attendance: 151.

After a year, Kert Park once again faced Považská Bystrica in the Super Cup, but this time on Czech soil. The Slovak team took an early lead, capitalizing on two power-play opportunities, with Ivan Hryzák scoring first, followed shortly by Lukáš Urbánek. Kert Park couldn’t find the back of the net in the first period and only scored in the second when Radomír Vaněk netted a power-play goal.

In the third period, the home team aimed to close the gap and started with another power play but couldn’t convert. Dominik Botka scored in the 39th minute to secure the win for the Slovak juniors. Kert Park continued to push, even pulling their goalie for an extra skater during a power play in the closing minutes, but failed to score. The final nail came when Jaroslav Kendera found the empty net, sealing the win for Považská Bystrica. Although Kert Park outshot their opponents, they couldn’t defend their Super Cup title.

HBC Svítkov Stars Pardubice vs. HBC Double Team Považská Bystrica 5:6ss (1:1, 3:1, 1:3 - 0:0)

Goals and assists: 10. Korec (Shejbal, Pavlíček), 19. Vizváry (Kábrt, Matýs), 23. Kantor (Bláha, Kábrt), 27. Vizváry (Drbal, Matýs), 43. Bláha – 12. Haviar (Dejl), 30. Zajac, 34. Zamborský (Haviar), 39. Zajac (Botka), 44. Botka (Záborský, Zamborský), 55. Botka.

Shots on goal: 42-37, Penalties: 5-5, Power plays: 4-4, Conversions: 2-1, Attendance: 100.

The junior champions of the Czech and Slovak leagues squared off in an intense, back-and-forth game. Svítkov’s Adam Korec opened the scoring in the 10th minute, but Boris Haviar quickly equalized for the Slovak side. The second period saw more scoring action, with Svítkov netting three consecutive goals, thanks to Richard Vizváry, Tadeáš Kantor, and a second by Vizváry.

However, Považská Bystrica began to mount a comeback in the third period. Rastislav Zamborský and Matej Zajac scored to pull within one, with Zajac equalizing on a power play. A late goal from Matyáš Bláha gave Svítkov the lead, but Dominik Botka responded immediately, sending the game into overtime. The shootout saw Považská Bystrica dominate, converting all three attempts, with Botka scoring the winning goal, securing this year's Junior Super Cup for Slovakia.