Sparta blank Vítkovice again, Plzeň wins West Bohemian derby

In pre-season hockey friendlies ahead of the new Czech Extraliga campaign, Sparta Prague beat Vítkovice 3:0 for the second time running, Škoda Plzeň got the better of Energie Karlovy Vary in the West Bohemian derby, and Dukla Jihlava kept up its winning run against top-flight opposition.

Sparta shut Vítkovice out again

At Holešovice in Prague, the crowd had to wait until the second period for the opening goal. Pavel Kousal broke the deadlock in the 34th minute, before Kristian Vesalainen and, once again, Matěj Blümel struck in the third period, with Blümel continuing his hot streak after netting twice in yesterday's game.

Goaltender Jakub Kovář kept a clean sheet, handing the net over for the final five minutes only to 16-year-old junior Tomáš Hájek. Vítkovice failed to score once more, suffering their third consecutive scoreless defeat in the preparatory phase.

Plzeň take the derby, Jihlava beat another Extraliga side

The West Bohemian derby in Klatovy, watched by 2,650 spectators, was also a low-scoring affair. Defenceman Carter Robertson, Plzeň's Canadian reinforcement, opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. Jan Růžička sealed the win, as Škoda took their first summer match 1:0 over Energie.

Dukla Jihlava played their fifth game against top-league opposition and picked up their third win, this time beating Olomouc. The club pulled away in the second period thanks to a rebound goal from Lhoták and a shot from the blue line by Plutnar. Požížek added a fourth late on to make it a comfortable win, while defenceman Petr Hevize scored a consolation goal for the home side.

The highest-scoring game was in České Budějovice

The most goals came in the clash between Motor and Slovan Bratislava. In the second period, Prague-born world champion Tomáš Kundrátek levelled the score for the Czech side, and another summer addition, Canadian Parker Bell, also got on the scoresheet. In the 46th minute, Jan Ordoš put Motor ahead 4:3, but just eleven seconds later Jonáš Peterek restored parity for the Slovaks. Samuel Bučok settled it for Bratislava in overtime, sealing a 5:4 win.

Around Prague, based on reporting by sport.cz