EUHL at the turn of the seasons – evaluating last year, presentation of possible new teams

Although the European University Hockey League exists only since two years, it is getting increasingly more popular and for the most part advances nicely in development. Not only the association (EUHA) itself managing the mentioned competition, but also trainers and managers of teams constantly join forces and try to create the best possible conditions for the league, so that all its participants are satisfied – and not least supporters of university hockey.

After two years of EUHL we can conclude, that after this time there are noticeable many assets and strong competition, but also potential weaknesses that need to be removed and effectively resolved. Progress is needed to evade criticism, but at the same time it is very important –to raise the level and to motivate new people coming in helping to grow the product.

Therefore recently the EUHA rewarded the best players and officials from this season. Best headcoach of the 2014/15 season became Lukáš Opáth, who coached the rookie team UMB Banská Bystrica and fought his way with his team up to the finals. His teammate Milan Kyseľ won the award for the best manager, but didn’t forget to note in his speech, that the said price is also belonging to his colleagues Marek Janik and Lukáš OPATH, with them he manages the daily business of UMB hockey. The most time on stage spent the captain of the championship team from Prague Petr Hučko, who was awarded with two trophies for the Best Player of the season and was voted as Most Valuable Player to his winning team, which also received the Sekeráš Trophy and the attacker was also inducted into the All Stars team.With him the best six players became keeper Matúš Porubský (HK Slavia STU Bratislava) Defenders Karel Herr (Charles University), Nicolas Ketner (HK Slavia STU Bratislava) and forwards Marek Marušiak (Paneuropa Kings) and Daniel Bednarik (Gladiators Trenčín).

Hučko and Vojtěch Vokatý were given awards for Most valuable player and goaltender in the Playoffs, while the collective award for Slovak champion was awarded to the delighted players of the PANEUROPA Kings. Also on this evening the faces of non-hockey players didn’t lack smiles, who are mainly involved in publishing teams: Matej Čalfa won the category for best journalist, for media development throughout the operation of EUHL Jana Pšenková and Peter Brichta were awarded with trophies.

The awards and this gala show stands for the appreciation of all those important people who work tireless for the community in particular,and this should hopefully be a driving driving force in next years not only for their own, but also for players, coaches, managers and journalists from other teams. „Competition“ may still grow greater and greater; Peter Špankovič, general manager of the EUHA, revealed that the universities with which accession negotiations to extend the EUHL have taken place. The mentioned competition can be named with the Czech Technical University in Prague, Masaryk University in Brno and the big interest came from Poland: Podhale – Nowy Targ.