In Sports News this Monday: the Czechs come last with only one point at ice hockey’s Karjala Cup, despite taking the lead in all three of their games; javelin star Barbora Špotáková is named Czech Athlete of the Year for the third time in a row; and Teplice are now three points in front in the Czech football league after a win over their nearest rivals Jablonec.
Czechs take only one point at Karjala Cup despite being in front in all three games
Czech Republic - Russia, photo: CTK
The Czech Republic’s ice hockey players finished last with only one point in Finland’s Karjala Cup, one of the four competitions in the Euro Hockey Tour. The remarkable thing is that the Czechs went in front in all three of their games and ended up losing each one. After defeat to Sweden and the hosts, the Czech Republic led Russia after nine minutes on Sunday, through goals from Jan Bulis and Pavel Brendl. But once again that lead evaporated and they were beaten 4:3 in overtime by the tournament winners. Czech coach Vladimír Růžička shared his thoughts with reporters after Sunday’s game.
“I think we certainly didn’t disappoint today in terms of how we played. But hockey is all about goals, we scored fewer of them and we have to get ready for the next tournament. These tournaments are very evenly balanced and now a tough tournament faces us in Russia, maybe even tougher than this one.”
The Channel One Cup takes place in Moscow in the middle of December. It will be the last competition for the Czech hockey team ahead of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February.
Špotáková named athlete of year for third time in succession
Barbora Špotáková, photo:CTK
The javelin star Barbora Špotáková was named Czech Athlete of the Year for the third time in a row at an awards ceremony in Prague on Saturday night. The women’s world record holder this year took silver in the javelin at the World Athletics Championship in Berlin, becoming the only member of the Czech team to bring home a medal. Špotáková’s coach Rudolf Černý was named trainer of the year for the fourth year in succession.
Teplice now three points in front after victory over closest rivals Jablonec
Teplice - Jablonec, photo: CTK
The big game in the Czech football league at the weekend was the top of the table clash between Teplice and Jablonec. Both teams had been on 29 points going into Saturday’s game, with Teplice only ahead thanks to superior goal difference. But now they have a rather more substantial lead, after a 1:0 home win. The only goal of that match was a curious one, with a shot by Adin Mahmutovic rocketing of the cross bar and then going in off Teplice keeper Michal Špit.
