Mountfield HK became the first Czech team to win the right to fight for the European Trophy on home ice when they defeated Djurgården in the Semi-Finals last week and for the very first time the Champions Hockey League Final will be held in the Czech Republic.
We already covered what to expect from Mountfield’s home arena, the ČPP Arena, but what about the fans that will be supporting their teams in the stands on the big night?
It’s no secret that Mountfield have had some of best the fans this season – from thousands of fans at home matches to travelling supporters, the team heavily rely on their support and have certainly repaid them with their performances on the ice this season, as Mountfield made it all the way to the Final without losing a single Playoff match!
But their fans have been been standing behind their team since the Group Stage – when Mountfield faced the Graz99ers in Austria on Game Day 5, over 300 fans made the journey to support their side! And it was a similar story when they faced Adler Mannheim in the Round of 16 – hundreds of away fans made the trip to neighbouring Germany with banners to show their support and push their team on.
“They are amazing (the fans). We wouldn’t be where we are without them. I would like to thank them all.”Richard Nedomlel, in an interview for the official Mountfield HK website after reaching the Final.
When the Semi-Finals rolled around, Mountfield faced Djurgården in Stockholm for the first leg in one of their toughest matches of the season. With more than 150 fans supporting them in the away sector, Mountfield were able to win the match 3-1.
The second leg in Hradec Králové last week saw over 6000 fans flock to the stadium to witness Mountfield’s historic 3-0 win and first ever Finals qualification.The record turnout was resulted in one of the best atmospheres in any match all season and was a great preview to what to expect from the Final on Tuesday 4 February. See for yourself in the video bellow.
But Mountfield aren’t the only team to have had amazing support this year. Debutants Augsburger Panther were fantastically supported both home and away, with hundreds of fans making the trips to Belfast, Biel-Bienne and almost 1000 travelled to near-by Liberec!
Another one of a kind atmosphere is in the Valascia, the home arena of HC Ambrì-Piotta. Thousands of supporters travel to the arena located 1000 meters above sea level in the Swiss Alps to support their team each and every match day and just like the players give their all on the ice, the fans give their all singing and chanting in the stands. The small arena gets so loud, that the atmosphere is often compared to an inferno.