Czech Tipsport Extraliga Starts New Season
Numerous stars return to the Czech Republic’s top ice hockey league
Foto: Petr Coufal
The Czech Republic’s top ice hockey league is returning. The 2026/27 season will be marked by the 90th anniversary of the country’s highest division, a new main partner, Red Bull and the return of numerous prominent figures from Czech ice hockey.
The Czech Republic’s top ice hockey league begins its 2026/27 season next week. Alongside the battle for the championship title, attention will focus on the return of numerous prominent players and coaches, as well as the league’s 90th anniversary. To mark the start of the season, the league held a press conference at Prague-Letňany airfield on Monday, 7 September.
The new season will open on 15 September with the rescheduled match between Karlovy Vary and Třinec. The remaining twelve teams will enter the competition one day later.
The regular season will end with the 52nd round of fixtures on 5 March 2027. The preliminary round of the play-offs will begin three days later. The new Czech champions will be decided by 30 April at the latest, when the seventh and deciding game of the final will be played if necessary.
Foto: Red Bull CZ
Dynamo Pardubice enter the season as reigning champions. The title holders have once again significantly strengthened their squad after winning the championship and are therefore among the favourites for the new season.
Numerous prominent figures from Czech ice hockey return
Several high-profile returnees with experience in the North American professional league NHL and at World Championships will generate additional interest. David Kämpf, Tomáš Nosek, David Tomášek, Matěj Blümel, Daniel Voženílek and Michal Kempný are among those who will once again play in the Czech league.
Foto: Petr Coufal
Several younger players are also returning following spells in North America. Michal Kunc, Jakub Rychlovský and Jakub Brabenec intend to continue their careers in Czech ice hockey.
Familiar names can also be found behind the bench. Radim Rulík and Patrik Augusta, both former coaches of Czech national teams, are taking on new roles in the Extraliga. Rulík will coach the Rytíři from Kladno, while Augusta will take charge of HC Sparta Prague.
Red Bull Becomes New Partner of the Czech Ice Hockey League
Another change concerns the league’s partners. Austrian energy drink manufacturer Red Bull will become one of the main partners of the Tipsport Extraliga. The league will also receive a new official song entitled ‘Jdeme na hokej’. Its release, together with the premiere of the music video, is scheduled for 7.30 am on Friday, 11 September, on the Extraliga’s social media channels.
Foto: Red Bull CZ
A particular highlight of the season will be the celebrations planned for January to mark the 90th anniversary of the Czech Republic’s top ice hockey league. The prestigious league has produced numerous great figures in Czech and international ice hockey and, even after nine decades, remains one of the country’s most widely followed sporting competitions.
