Ahead of the start of the upcoming Champions Hockey League season, we asked the Head Coaches of Oceláři Třinec's six Regular Season opponents what their thoughts are on the Czech team - here's what they had to say!
Lausanne HC Head Coach Geoff Ward: “Třinec are a team that know how to win. Cham- pions five seasons in a row, they’re used to competing in the Champions Hockey League. It’s going to be a very interesting encounter for our team.”
Rouen Dragons Head Coach Fabrice Lhenry: “Třinec have won the Czech Extraliga several times, including four out of the last five seasons. Třinec regularly participate in the CHL, often qualifying for the Playoffs, and have already reached the Semi-Finals of the Champions Hockey League! The team are known for their solid and consistent play, making them a formidable team on the European stage. We will have the honor of hosting them in Rouen.”
Växjö Lakers Head Coach Jörgen Jönsson: “A team from the country of the World Champions – Czechia! A team that has won the last 5 champions in the coun- try and a team with a lot of great players.”
Fribourg-Gottéron Head Coach Patrick Emond: “Oceláři Třinec have been one of the best teams in Czechia for several seasons now. They finished third in the regular season but were able to beat Pardubice in the final. This trip will be a big test for our team.”
Färjestad Karlstad Head Coach Tomas Mitell: “Czech champions and a roster full of seasoned players who have been around the game for a long time. It’s going to be a tough game as Czech teams always are a hard nut to crack.”
Unia Oświęcim Assistant Coach Krzysztof Majkowski: “This is the team we know best. The Dragons have won five championships in recent seasons, demonstrating their considerable potential. Their last two triumphs were led by coach Zdeněk Moták. We know he places great emphasis on tactical discipline and diligent defensive play. The Czech media have repeatedly highlighted that good defensive play, combined with strong goaltending, were decisive factors in key playoff matches. The undisputed leader of the team is Martin Růžička. The experienced Czech forward is capable of scoring crucial goals and setting up goals for his teammates. Another very productive player is Libor Hudáček, as shown in the recent IIHF World Championship in Prague. It is worth mentioning that the broader roster of Oceláři Třinec includes Kamil Wałęga, a regular member of the Polish national team, and we hope he will have the opportunity to play against our team. We hope that as many of our fans as possible will travel to Třinec. They are excellent at cheering and encouraging our team to fight on!”