Goalkeeper Bartošák will work in Hradec Králové next season

The twenty-nine-year-old Bartošák returns to the extra league after three years in Sweden, Finland and the KHL. The goalkeeper with national team experience is currently playing in Lahti, Finland.

“Two years in a row, we had goaltenders without a clearly defined role in advance. We decided that next season we would like to have it set up a little differently. We gradually became interested in Patrik, we found out information about the player’s form and his life outside of hockey. And from everyone we received a clear answer that everything has been absolutely fine for the last two years,” said general manager Aleš Kmoníček

The Kopřivnice pupil ended somewhat unexpectedly in the Czech Republic. Mistrovský Třinec terminated the contract with him prematurely due to a violation of the life management. In November 2019, Bartošák admitted to mental problems, which he solved by consuming alcohol, and interrupted his career. At the end of January 2020, however, he headed to the second division Swedish team MODO Hockey.

“We had a lot of long talks together and after considering all the circumstances, we all said that we will go for it. I am convinced that an excellent goalkeeper is coming and nothing else. The negotiations with Patrik and his representative were correct, and that also confirmed us in that we have taken a good step. I firmly believe that Patrik will help us a lot with his indisputable qualities,” said Kmoníček in the address of the goalkeeper, who caught at the 2019 World Cup and was part of the national team at the 2018 and 2022 Olympic Games.

Bartošák will form a pair together with Kiviah, who has been working in Hradec Králové for the second season and is currently Mountfield’s number one. He has now signed a new contract. “Kivi has become an integral part of our cabin in two years and has confirmed that he is not only a great boy and a great professional, but especially a very good goalkeeper. With this signing, we have acquired a great pair of goalkeepers for next year,” said the general manager.

The arrival of Bartošák and the extension of cooperation with Kiviah means that Jan Růžička, who came from Mladá Boleslav before the current season and has a contract for the next extra-league season, will probably end up at the club. “I have to admit that neither side is so far satisfied with the way everything is going. We are communicating with Růža and we agreed that the whole thing did not go well. We will solve together how to deal with the whole situation,” said Kmoníček.

Like Kiviaho, the 25-year-old defender Kalina, who joined the club in 2021 from Sparta, will add at least a third season in the Hradec Králové jersey. “Petr is our stable defender who fulfills his defensive tasks well, and since he also wants to continue in Hradec, our agreement was very quick,” said Kmoníček.

At the same time, the East Bohemians also received reinforcements for the end of the current season. Thirty-one-year-old Canadian striker Werek, who four years ago helped Třínec win the title, is coming to Hradec Králové. “We firmly believe that Ethan will significantly help us at the end of the season with his experience, emphasis, but also productivity. Personally, he is very much looking forward to Hradec and the Czech extra league,” said Kmoníček, adding that Werek could already start in Sunday’s match of the 43rd round against I do.

Werek, who played 51 games for Třinec, including the playoffs, with a balance of 19 goals and 13 assists, played for Kunlun in the KHL after leaving the extra league. He represented China at last year’s Olympic Games in Beijing. The native of Markham, Ontario is the ninth foreigner in the Hradec Králové squad.