Photo caption: HC Kometa started the preseason with a tie, then won six in a row. Today, the real games start: HC Kometa begin the 2021-22 Tipsport extraliga at Karlovy Vary. Watch the game on CT Sport at 5:30pm. Photo credit: Ivo Dostál.
Brno, Sep 8 (BD) — Basket Brno hosts a tournament at Hala vodova Thursday and Friday;
Lokomotiva’s Lucie Lišková leads the top women’s league with six goals; and Líšeň host league-leading Dukla on Friday.
HOCKEY
HC Kometa Begin Season Today
As with the start of school, the onset of cooler weather and the earlier darkness, another rite of autumn begins today, as HC Kometa start the 2021-22 Tipsport extraliga hockey season.
Of course, there are several parts of the team that are new, including a new head coach, about a dozen “new” (or returning) players and a new name for the arena.
Kometa prepared for the season well. After a tie, they have won their last six games. The first game is today at HC Energie Karlovy Vary. It starts at 5:30pm, and the game will be on CT Sport.
The new coach, Jiří Kalous, was coy with his thoughts about lineups and player injuries and the goalkeeping depth chart: “I’ll let you be surprised,” he said several times during a press conference on Monday.
Last year, Brno, which finished the 52-game regular season in ninth place, was swept away in the quarterfinals by eventual champions HC Oceláři Třinec. This season, there are 15 teams and 60 rounds of games; each team plays all 15 teams four times, twice at home and twice on the road.
Captain Martin Zaťovič and top scorer Peter Mueller are both back.
The new name for the Arena — after Rondo and DRFG — is the Winning Group Arena.The first home game will be on Sunday when PSG Berani Zlín come to the Winning Group Arena for a 5pm start.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Basket Brno Host Tourney Thursday, Friday
Though the domestic league does not start for another two weeks, Basket Brno will continue tuning up when they host the Brno Open Cup this Thursday and Friday at Hala Vodova.
On Thursday, Atomerömü SE Paks play Swans Gmunden at 3:30pm and Basket Brno play UBSC Graz at 6pm. The losing teams play on Friday at 3:30pm, and the title game is Friday at 6pm.
Brno hope to build upon their most successful season, while continuing to mesh the strong pool of youth players in this region with the senior team.
Basket Brno team co-owner Ctirad Nečas has high hopes: “Last season we made a huge jump. After 14 years we fought our way into the fight for the medals. This year we want to move at least a small step again. After last season took place almost entirely without spectators, we hope to find support in the fan community again this year.”
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
Lokomotiva Picking Up Steam
Lucie Lišková scored twice to lead Lokomotiva Brno-Horní Heršpice to their third straight victory in the top domestic league of women’s football, beating visiting FK Dukla Praha, 2-0, on Sunday.
This Friday, the team will travel to Moravian rival 1. FC Slovácko. The game is at 8pm.
Lišková has six goals this season and she is the leading scorer in the league.
Lokomotiva started this season with a 3-0 loss at league-powerhouse AC Sparta Praha, then beat FC Viktoria Plzeň, 4-2, and FK Pardubice, 1-4.
Lokomotiva (3-0-1, nine points) is now tied at the top of the standings, though both AC Sparta Praha (3-0-0, nine) and SK Slavia Praha (3-0-0, nine) have a game in hand.
1. FC Slovácko are unbeaten in two games this season.
For updated information and the schedule for 1.liga žen, go to the league website at https://zeny.fotbal.cz/ (in Czech).
MEN’S FOOTBALL
Líšeň Host Top-team Dukla on Friday
After the international break, the Fortuna: Národní Liga continues this weekend with Líšeň hosting league-leading FK Dukla Praha. The game is on Friday at 5pm.
SK Líšeň 2019 are 2-2-2 and in eighth place. A victory against Dukla (5-1-0, 16 points) would help them, but it would also help crosstown rival FC Zbrojovka, who are in a tie with FC Sellier & Bellot Vlašim for second place with a record of 4-1-1 and 13 points.
For updated information and the schedule for the Fortuna: Národní Liga, go to the league website at https://www.fnliga.cz/ . The FC Zbrojovka team website is at https://fczbrno.cz/. The SK Líšeň 2019 team website is at https://www.sklisen.com/ .
