In Fribourg-Gotteron's Quarter-Final series against Vitkovice, it is a pair of veteran Czechs that are leading the offence. Roman Cervenka and Michal Birner discussed their roles on the Swiss club, and playing in the NLA and CHL.

by Derek O'Brien and Daniel Jezek

When Fribourg-Gotteron beat Vitkovice Ridera Ostrava 5-2 last Tuesday in the first leg of the CHL Quarter-Finals, a lot of the offence was provided by a pair of players who were visiting their home country. The big star was centre Roman Cervenka, the Czech international and ex-NHLer who registered 4 assists and is now the Cramo Top Scorer for the whole CHL with 12 points. Of course on the right side was Julien Sprunger, the recipient of most of Cervenka's passes, who scored 3 goals. But also 1 goal was scored by the line's left winger, Michal Birner.

Having just joined the team at the start of November, Birner has only played 12 NLA games, but already has 14 points (5+9). According to Birner, he's just doing his job.

“That's what we're there,” he said frankly. “That's the way it is in Switzerland – each team is only allowed four import players, so that's why we should be leaders.”

The game in Ostrava was his the 30-year-old's first in the CHL this season, but not his first ever – not by a long shot. He played for Bili Tygri Liberec last season and KalPa Kuopio in 2014-15, recording 2 goals and 4 assists over 14 games. Previously, he'd also played in the European Trophy for TPS Turku, so he has plenty of international club hockey experience.

For Cervenka, it was his second game in the Czech Republic this season, after Fribourg visited Orli Znojmo during the group stage. “It was pretty quick, but it was nice,” he said of the one-night stay. “I'll come back again for Christmas.”

Like Birner, Cervenka is obviously one of Fribourg's imported stars. Maybe because of that, he carries a bit of the load for the team's lack of domestic success this season, despite scoring 26 points (7+19) in 24 games. 

“I'm satisfied to a certain extent,” he said about his production. “But when points don't help the team, they're not good for anything. If we can get something going and get into the top eight (in the NLA standings) it will be okay, but right now there's still something missing.”

Indeed, the team has lost six straight NLA games and are now last place in the whole league – a far cry from the success they've had in the CHL, where they are on the verge of making the European Semi-Finals.

“It's hard to say what it is,” Cervenka shrugged. “They are two different competitions. The league is a long season, whereas in the CHL we just play two games at a time. We seem to be able to put together some streaks, so if we catch it at the right time, we can be successful. But in the league we just can't stay consistent. We'll win a couple, and it looks like we're starting to turn things around, then lose three in a row.” 

For now, Fribourg can put their domestic troubles aside and focus on the CHL, where they have a three-goal advantage heading into the return game, which they play at home. However, they're not taking it as a given. 

“We see it as a double-header – one victory does not mean anything,” Birner warned. “(The game in Ostrava) was just the first step. Obviously it gets us a little closer, but we still have to do our jobs and get ready for the next game.”  

Birner, who played in the Czech Extraliga last season, doesn't expect Vitkovice to lay down and quit. “They're a better team than they were last year. I consider them a darkhorse in the Extraliga. There were times (in the first game) where they were better than us and our goalie held us in there.”

“It was an even game,” Cervenka agreed. “Neither team was favoured going in. If Vitkovice had scored on their chances, this next game would have been different.”

One interesting part of the first game for Birner was an altercation he had with veteran defenceman Jan Vytisk – the two were teammates last season, winning the national championship in Liberec. It appeared that Birner got the better of his former teammate, who went down to the ice. 

“He fell himself. I'm not strong enough to knock him down,” Birner smiled. “He knows how much I lift in the gym, so he was probably a bit scared.” he quipped. 

“Before the game we said hello,” he said, serious again. “We'll probably see each other again in Switzerland and exchange a few words. It's always nice to see with someone that you've won with.”

If Fribourg can advance further in the CHL, maybe Birner and Cervenka will have that chance with each other, or with their other teammates, at some point in the future. 

Also read:

Fribourg's Cervenka on upcoming World Cup: “It will be special”

KalPa's Birner back in Prague: "It was a bit nostalgic"