One of the best hockey summers draws to a close

The first chance for the HC SLOVAN fans to see their team back on the ice after their Slovak Extraliga championship was on the 24^th July, as over 7,500 loud and proud SLOVAN fans packed the Slovnaft Arena on a warm July evening to see their side defeat KHL giants SKA St. Petersburg 2:1, with Peter Ölvecký scoring the winner with six minutes left in the game. It was a great way to kick off preparation for the new season, and after being rather quiet in the opening game, the forwards really showed what they were made of in the opening European Trophy game against Czech Extraliga newcomers, Piráti Chomutov. HC SLOVAN Bratislava jumped out to a 4:1 lead against their Czech opponents, only to be pegged back to 5:5, which sent the game to overtime.  Ölvecký proved to be the hero once again, as he scored the winning penalty shot to give HC SLOVAN their second win in a row.

Two wins would go on to become three, as a couple of days later the side returned to the Slovnaft Arena, where they faced a HC Spartak Moscow side, featuring Team Slovakia silver medallist Branko Radivojevič. Ville Hostikka would make his first appearance in a HC SLOVAN jersey, and the Finnish netminder excelled in front of 8,765 fans at the Slovnaft Arena. Third period goals from Ján Tabaček and Martin Bakoš helped HC SLOVAN to a 3:1 victory, in a game where they could have possibly won by more.

Next on the list for HC SLOVAN was the Vienna Capitals, who they played on the 10^th August. Jonathan Sigalet and Libor Hudáček made their first appearances in pre-season, and this was a boost to the side, as they went on to pick up their fourth victory in a row. Mario Bližňák’s goal was the only one HC SLOVAN managed to score in open play, and for the second time in as many European Trophy games, HC SLOVAN were victorious in a shootout. Ville Hostikka put on another impressive display in goal and Michal Vondrka scoring the winning penalty shot.

HC SLOVAN were looking to pick up their first regulation victory in the European Trophy when they faced HC Sparta Praha. Their chances increased when Kamil Kreps was announced as signing for HC SLOVAN the day of the game, and the team went into the game full of confidence of picking up three points. However, sometimes even the best made plans go wrong, and in front of another packed house, HC SLOVAN lost their first game of the season, losing 5:3 to their impressive Czech opponents. Vondrka and Ölvecký both found the net again in the game against Sparta, continuing their fine form in pre-season.

Two games in three nights in Sweden followed next for HC SLOVAN, as the side looked to bounce back from their first defeat. However, against two tough Swedish opponents, HC SLOVAN came back from their Swedish trip with no points. Bad bounces and a lack of luck struck the team in the first game against Linköpings HC, as HC SLOVAN lost 4:2, before a great performance by Viktor Kokman in goal for HV71 left HC SLOVAN goalless, as the young Swedish netminder posted a 27 shot shutout.

The common theme of HC SLOVAN’s pre-season is that they play their best hockey in front of their home faithful. Nearly 7,000 made it to the Slovnaft Arena for the game against JYP on the 24^th August, not least to see national team hero Miroslav Šatan make his first appearance in a HC SLOVAN jersey this season. Šatan, who has been training with the team since early August has still yet to confirm whether or not he will be playing the full season for HC SLOVAN, but the omens look good after a fantastic performance against JYP. Head coach Rostislav Čada re-united the lethal combination of Šatan - Lipiansky – Hudáček, which paid off dividends for HC SLOVAN, especially on the penalty kill. Šatan and Lipiansky both scored shorthanded goals in the opening period, as HC SLOVAN powered to a 5:0 victory. Šatan finished the game with a goal and two assists. Another player making their debut in the game against JYP was Slovak prospect Jaroslav Janus. The young netminder, a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning organisation, has been training for HC SLOVAN for a large part of August, and on his first appearance in a HC SLOVAN jersey he shutout his Finnish opponents.

The penultimate game of HC SLOVAN’s preparations was once again at the Slovnaft Arena and for the second game in a row, the home side were victorious against their Finnish opponents. Janus was impressive once again, and the Slovak champions showed their resilience, as they came back from a two goal deficit after the first period to take victory, with Milan Kytnár scoring the winner early in the third period.

Pre-season hasn’t finished yet for HC SLOVAN, as they still have another European Trophy game to play against the Vienna Capitals in Vienna, but the signs are looking good for HC SLOVAN as they embark on their new adventure in the KHL. The team would like to thank the fans for their incredible support during pre-season, as the club has attracted the largest attendances throughout August in the European Trophy. Such a comprehensive fixture list in pre-season will hopefully have the side in top form going into the first KHL game on the 6^th September against HC Donbass Donetsk. 

by Jon Rowson, www.velvethockey.blogspot.co.uk