Sports News

Czech ice hockey fans will have the chance to see the NHL's Stanley Cup up close on Sunday, when the New Jersey Devils Czech star Patrik Elias shows the trophy off in his home town. While Jiri Slegr considers his future, Jaromir Jagr looks set to stay at Washington. In football Slavia Prague have won away in their Champions League second qualifying tie against Bosnian side Leotar Trebinje.

Sports News

Elias shows off Stanley Cup in hometown, Slegr weighs future

Czech ice hockey fans will have the chance to see the NHL's Stanley Cup up close on Sunday, when the New Jersey Devils Czech star Patrik Elias shows the trophy off on the square of his home town, Trebic. Earlier this week Elias took part in a charity exhibition game in Usti nad Labem, along with fellow NHL stars such as Jan Caloun and local boy Milan Hejduk. Another attraction at the game was defender Jiri Slegr, a member of the famous Nagano team of 1998. A year ago Slegr was himself taking part in Stanley Cup celebrations; now the player - who has had offers from Czech clubs Liberec and Litvinov - is not sure where he'll be playing next season:

"I'd give it a bit more time. I haven't decided yet who I'll join. There have been talks with Liberec and Litvinov, though I'm still waiting to see what happens with the NHL. As for the two Czech clubs, I'm from Litvinov and I'd really like to play there, but if that falls through I really like the approach of the Liberec management, so I'd be content to join Liberec."

After summer of speculation, Jagr staying at Washington Capitals

After all the speculation about Jaromir Jagr's future, it now seems the most expensive player in the NHL will be staying at the Washington Capitals. Since joining Washington, the Czech forward has never really regained the form he showed while at the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Slavia win away in Champions League second qualifying tie

Patrik Gedeon (Slavia Prague) and Boban Stojanovic (Leotar Trebinje), photo: CTK

Slavia Prague took a step towards a lucrative place in the Champions League on Wednesday, when they beat Bosnia's Leotar Trebinje 2:1 away, in the first leg of their second qualifying round tie. Slavia opened the scoring after a quarter of an hour, when a strike from Rudolf Skacel rebounded kindly for Adauto. The Bosnians equalised with a penalty just before half-time, though Slavia stepped up the pace in the second half and put themselves in the driver's seat thanks to a headed goal from captain Richard Dostalek. Unless Trebinje cause an upset in the second leg, Slavia will then face Spain's Celta Vigo, not an opponent they will relish.

Brno and Liberec still in with chance after Intertoto clashes

Czech clubs Brno and Liberec were also in European action on Wednesday, in the first leg of the penultimate stage of the Intertoto Cup, which offers the chance of a place in the UEFA Cup. Brno drew 1:1 with Spain's Villareal at home, while Liberec were beaten 2:1 by Schalke in Germany.

Disappointment for Kozlikova at world track cycling championships

There was disappointment for Lada Kozlikova at the world track cycling championships in Stuttgart on Wednesday. After winning the silver last year in Copenhagen, the only woman in the Czech team came a long way down the pack this time out, finishing 17th.