From left: Vladimír Vůjtek, Milan Antoš and Alois Hadamczik.
Sport.cz/Vlastimil Vacek (Law), Ronald Hansel and Jan Handrejch
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Former coaches of the Czech national team Alois Hadamczik and Vladimír Vůjtek, as well as former forward and today co-commentator of the Czech Television Milan Antoš, took part in the Sport.cz poll. What are their tips for advancing?
Sparta – Olomouc
Alois Hadamczik: Sparta has a strong team and will advance. Olomouc surprised from the preliminary round, her hat down in front of her. What she did with Pilsen is unprecedented. But for me, Sparta is a candidate for the title.
Alois Hadamczik.
Petr Horník, Right
Vladimír Vůjtek: Sparta is a clear favorite. Olomouc is a fighting team that has gained confidence through Pilsen, and has already won in the basic part of Sparta. He will resist, but Sparta will advance.
Milan Antos: Sparta, because he has an awfully strong staff. Olomouc will not be able to resist him for a long time.
Trinec – Brno
Alois Hadamczik: On paper, according to the results of the season, Třinec should go on and I think he will manage it in the end. But it will be a very balanced series.
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Hockey players of Kometa Brno rejoice at the goal during the preliminary round series with Vítkovice.
Jaroslav Ožana, ČTK
Vladimír Vůjtek: I would bet on Třinec, because the five-match series with Vítkovice cost Kometa an awful lot of strength. And she will miss you now.
Milan Antos: This is terribly controversial. I myself am curious in what light Třinec will appear after the problems that affected him at the end of the basic part. Even so, with regard to the strength of the staff, I would bet on the Steelmen, who together with Sparta were a clear favorite for me from the beginning of the basic part and confirmed it during it.
Mlada Boleslav – Pardubice
Alois Hadamczik: Terribly hard to guess. I once said that I rank Sparta, Třinec and Mladá Boleslav, among the three candidates for the title, so I trust her even now.
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The hockey players of Pardubice rejoice in advancing to the quarterfinals via Karlovy Vary.
Slavomír Kubeš, ČTK
Vladimír Vůjtek: I wouldn’t be so sure here anymore, I’m waiting for a balanced series. Mladá Boleslav plays well all season, has balanced performances. Pardubice rose with the arrival of King Coach and the acquisition of several reinforcements. A slight favorite, in the percentage of 60 to 40, is Mladá Boleslav for me.
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Vladimír Vůjtek the Elder.
Vlastimil Vacek, Right
Milan Antos: Very balanced duel. The fact that Pardubice cannot win on its ice plays for Boleslav (Dynamo lost ten times in a row in the extra league there, the last time in Mladá Boleslav succeeded in December 2015 – author’s note). Nevertheless, I slightly prefer Pardubice, due to their more experienced players.
Liberec – Hradec Králové
Alois Hadamczik: I think Hradec will advance. He has more resilient players and is experienced with battles in the playoffs, which is something other than the basic part. Liberec is also a fairly experienced team, but I believe in Hradec also because Růža (coach Vladimír Růžička) has a lot of experience with the playoffs. In addition, the defense, supported by the good goalkeeper Mazance, are prerequisites for progress.
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Will the hockey players of Liberec celebrate advancing to the semifinals through Hradec Králové?
Ondřej Hájek, ČTK
Vladimír Vůjtek: I like Liberec and together with Sparta and Třinec I consider it one of the favorites of this season. That’s why I’d bet on him. But he has a hard fight against Hradec, who can play outside. I reckon the series will last six to seven matches.
Milan Antos: I would say Liberec, but even this series can be very balanced. If the White Tigers advance, it is only because they can surpass the Hradec Králové defense, which will be very strong.
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