Sports News

Dominik Hasek has been disappointed to end his career with second in the Czech ice hockey player of the year awards, but has been raising millions for flood victims with his former Detroit teammates. Liberec football club have purchased Jan Polak for 22 million crowns, making him one of the most expensive players in the Czech league. In motor racing, Tomas Enge leads the Formula 3000 championship after coming first in the Hungarian Grand Prix. All those stories and more are in Sports News.

Hasek disappointed with second place in ice hockey player of the year awards

From left to right: Hasek, Slegr, Fischer, Kohn, photo: CTK

It had seemed like there was only one choice for the Czech ice hockey player of the year. Legendary goaltender Dominik Hasek retired recently after crowning a magnificent career with his first ever Stanley Cup victory, and most would have said he was a sure-fire bet to take the trophy. So there was some shock - and even outrage - when Hasek came second behind Jaromir Jagr in the poll. Five-times winner Jagr had the grace to say he had wanted Hasek to win, adding - perhaps not too seriously - that Hasek's loss could spur him out of retirement. The Dominator himself, who is 37, did not hide his disappointment, and said he was so incensed that he had been tempted to make a statement from the stage at Saturday's awards. Dominik Hasek's wife Alena got her speak in - saying Jagr had had a terrible season.

Dominator and former teammates raise millions for flood victims

After the disappointment of Saturday evening, Dominik Hasek looked a lot happier on Sunday, when he and the other three Czech players who were in last season's Stanley Cup winning Detroit side took part in a celebration-turned-fundraiser in Hasek's hometown of Pardubice. Over 10,000 turned out for the event, at which the Stanley Cup itself was presented to fans. Hasek said afterwards that millions of crowns had been raised for flood victims during the Stanley Cup's tour. Incidentally, the cup has been accompanied everywhere by two minders wearing white gloves.

Jagr Team to give exhibition game takings to flood victims

Jaromir Jagr is also doing his bit for victims of the recent devastating floods. His Jagr Team are donating the gate from an exhibition game against Prostejov to flood victims. By the way, Jaromir Jagr is preparing for a big test at the moment - at the age of 30 - he is about to sit his 'maturita' or school leaving exams.

Football round-up

The Czech football association has announced that half of the takings from Wednesday's friendly against Slovakia in Olomouc will go to flood victims.

Slovan Liberec have just made one of the most expensive purchases in the history of Czech football - the league champions have shelled out 22 million crowns for 21-year-old Brno midfielder Jan Polak. And the former Liberec striker Jiri Stajner has just scored his first goal for Germany's Hannover, in their 3:1 defeat at the hands of Munich 1860. Also this weekend Jan Koller - another member of the Czech squad for the Slovakia game - got one back for Dortmund in their 1:1 draw with Leverkusen.

Enge now leads Formula 3000 championships with two races to go

Czech racing driver Tomas Enge took advantage of poll position in the Hungarian Formula 3000 Grand Prix, in a victory that puts him two points ahead in the championship. Enge, who races with the Arden International team, stayed in front from start to finish in Saturday's race; his main rival, France's Sebastian Bourdrais, slipped off the top spot after a sixth place finish. There are two races left in this season's Formula 3000 championship, and Enge says it could be hard to defend his lead.

Freestyle aerial skier Valenta wins in the water

You may recall free-style aerial skier Ales Valenta's celebrated victory at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. Valenta and his rivals don't hang up their skis for the summer months; they train and compete in water - flying down ramps, doing their twists and turns, and landing in the drink. This weekend, Valenta won the latest round of the summer cup at Metmenstetten in Switzerland, repeating his famous Olympic-winning turns three times.