The Champions Hockey League held its third press conference in Prague yesterday, with participating Czech Extraliga teams and club representatives present.
The Czech Republic will be represented by three teams in 2022/23 - Extraliga champions Oceláři Třinec, finalists Sparta Prague and regular season winners Mountfield HK.
CHL CEO Martin Baumann presented relevant information to the clubs, including detailed information about prize money, official broadcasting partners, information about the CHL's revised disciplinary system and more.
Baumann also discussed the Group Stage Draw and presented the CHL format leading up to the big Final on 18 February 2023.
He also went on to mention the importance of programs such as the CHL Marketing Award and the new season of the CHL Fan Challenge in attracting new fans and new types of engagement.
After a short promo video, Baumann also presented the CHL's official TikTok channel, the CHL App and Advanced Game Statistics that are available for all CHL games.
The press conference then headed to individual interviews with players and coaches.
"We are a team used to winning and we also want to win on an international stage," started Oceláři Třinec Head Coach Vladimír Országh, "we are looking forward to playing."
"Our main goal is to move on to the Playoffs from our Group," he added.
Which opponents are Třinec looking forward to facing most?
Team captain Petr Vrána is looking forward to facing Belfast: "I'm really looking forward to facing Belfast, I've never played a team from the UK before so it will be an interesting experience."
“I’m looking forward to the trips and facing some different hockey styles, but we know it won’t be easy," he added.
We have a tough groupMountfield HK Head Coach Tomáš Martinec
Mountfield HK made it all the way to the Final last time round in the CHL. Head Coach Tomáš Martinec answered what his club's goals were for 2022/23: "We're glad to be back," he started, "we have a tough group but we will do our best to make it into the Playoffs."
Team captain Radek Smoleňák is excited about his club's planned trip to Berlin where the team, fans, club partners and representatives will all travel together to the game in a specially arranged 11-carriage charter train.
"We are really excited, the trip is going to be amazing," he said, "I hope we manage to win because the trip back would be crazy."
"But apart from that I'm looking forward to facing Frölunda. The games with them will be proper testers of our form," he added
Sparta Prague Head Coach Pavel Patera is "excited for the tough games ahead" and hopes the games will "also help us prepare for our Extraliga season".
He also mentioned that he is a big fan of Swedish hockey and is looking forward to facing Luleå Hockey most.
"I'm also looking forward to facing Luleå," added team captain Michal Řepík, "they were SHL finalists last season and have a great team with lots of young players."