High-stick play from home team in attacking zone and face-off in neutral zone, there isn´t much time for score now.

Kosice with puck in defense zone. Will Melichercik leave his net?

Jencik got the puck in attacking zone, tried to pass in-front of net from the right side, he didn´t find any teammates and also didn´t surprise Karhunen, he blocked by left pad.

Much effort, but no results..in this way is offense of Kosice now. Kolena now lost the puck in attacking zone. Oulu is still defending really well.

Manninen skated behind the net, passed into the right circle and tried a smart wrist-shot, Melichercik blocked by right pad!

Kosice spent some time in attacking zone, but Bartos lost the puck after the innacurate pass to Jencik. The game is now happening in neutral zone mostly.

There is a last commercial break of the match. Kosice is doing everything to score a goal, but it´s difficult against well-organised Finnish team.

Huml played it cleverly now. Came with puck into the attacking zone, but then came back to the defenders. Oulu is getting plenty of seconds, which are now remaining to the final whistle.

Oulu gets other minute to the end of match. There are no shots on goal from Kosice in these moments.

Kosice with puck on sticks, in effort to equalise. Finnish team performed well-defending, especially in neutral zone. It´s difficult for Kosice to pass into the attacking zone now.

Glenn is active in attacking tonight, he passed to offense zone and tried to shot from the blue-line, Melichercik blocked by right pad.

Karhunen hide the puck to glove after shot from neutral zone, home team got the face-off in attacking zone. There are 10 minutes left till the end.

We saw a wrist-shot by Davis from the left circle, he targeted directly on Melichercik, who made a comfortable save.

Home team won the face-off in attacking zone, Kloucek tried to shot again, but he was innacurate and missed the goal.

Oulu won the face-off in offense zone, Masuhr tried a shot from blue-line, it was blocked by defender. Game then moved to other side by attack of Kosice.

Small break for refresh and commercial in Steel Arena. We are exepecting last 13 minutes and ask – can home team equalise and get first points in CHL? Will see, it will be interesting, for sure...

Oulu in interesting attack, but Melichercik resolved it all by save with pads. Game is continuing in great performance of both teams, fans are probably well-satisfied.

Pyorala got the great pass between the circles and had time for shot, Melichercik saved his team by great block by pads!

Icing from Kosice, game is moving to defense zone of home team. There is going to be a face-off.

Great pressure from Kosice, it is moved in attacking zone! Spilar made a shot from left side, Karhunen saved by pad. The attack was continuing then, but with no shots.

Game turned to other side of rink, there was a shot from right circle by Alikoski, Melichercik saved by his glove.

Kosice won the face-off to Kloucek, he tried a hard snap-shot from the blue line, Karhunen blocked by pads! Aftewards, Kolena tried the shot from left circle, it was blocked by defender and ends by Karhunen´s save.

Icing from Oulu, the game is moving to attacking zone of Kosice for face-off.

Karhunen in a great save with his glove! Bartanus came to the attacking zone, skated behind the net and passed to Janosik, he shot from right circle, Karhunen saved!

Finnish team started the last period better, was in 2 on 1 chance in attacking zone, but this was a hand-pass, so there will be a face-off in neutral zone.

Kosice won the face-off and Lapsansky made individual breakaway, passed through the defender and tried to shot on goal, Karhunen blocked by pads.

Game is moving to the other side after save by Melichercik. Face-off in attacking zone of Oulu is going to happen.

However, Kosice is still attacking and trying to score. We saw a shot from left circle by Chovan, Karhunen saved by glove.

Karpat survives other power-play, now is playing in full strenght.

Inaccurate pass between two defenders on blue-line, game is happening in neutral zone, the power-play is slowly coming to the end.

Two blocked shots from team in power-play, both players were in such a good positions to score, but defenders were brave and blocked everything!

Oulu is playing full strenght.

Bicek in a great position on the left circle after precise pass, but he didn´t hit the puck well and Karhunen made a save!

The next dangerous shot from home team came in power-play, Karhunen is really careful and saved the puck with glove.

Huml was in good position on the right side, waited for a pass from Spang, but it was inaccurate, so there was no work for Melichercik.

Oulu in attacking zone, but this shot from Pyoarala was blocked by defender. Kosice escaped itself, it is defending well.

Zagrapan in shorthanded individual attack, tried a surprise Karhunen with fast shot from right circle, Karhunen saved with left pad.

Shot by Komulainen! He was alone on the right circle, tried fast wrist-shot, Melichercik was in good position and made an important save!

Melichercik made a nice save by glove. Goalkepers improved in 2nd period and damaging all chances yet. Commercial break is coming.

Not dangerous shot from home team, Karhunen made an easy save with gis trapper. Face-off is coming.

Fault by Strbak, he tried to shot puck out of defence zone, but it was blocked by Kemppainen, he was alone in front of goal, but was so surprised from that chance, so he didn´t made any shot.

Bicek was in a great position in front of net, but he missed a great pass from Kolena! Karhunen without the save for now.

Jencik on the other side shows, that Kosice still wants to equalise this match, he passes to attacking zone and tried to shot from left circle, Karhunen saved with pad.

Dangerous situation in attacking zone of Oulu! Kemppainen was free on right circle, sent a great pass to the middle on Junttila, he missed puck in great position!

The rush game will stop for a while. There is a commercial break coming. We see an amazing performance from both teams!

Glenn was behind the net of Kosice, tried to surprise Melichercik with clever shot, home goalkeeper saved by left pad!

Souranta in breakaway, had a teammate on the right circle, but tried a shot from left circle, Melichercik saved by right pad!

Kosice starts second period with much more active game, than in first period. The puck is on sticks of Kosice´s players, fans are satisfied and shouting for their team!

Oulu survived the power-play of Kosice, playing full strenght.

The home team in a great power-play, but Karhunen is performing really well. Now, Zagrapan made a nice individual attack to the zone, Karhunen saved.

2 on 1 shorthanded break for Oulu, but it was stopped by inaccurate pass. Kosice is now attacking again.

Kosice started in good way, Bartos tried a wrist-shot from the right circle, but it was quite weak, Karhunen blocked with right pad without any problems.

Melichercik hide puk in his glove, there is going to happen probably the last face-off in attacking zone of Oulu.

Kosice with puck and effort to score equaliser. Home team is in attacking zone now, but without shots on goal.

Kosice in full strenght and with chance! Jencik made a great breakaway, was on left circle and there was a snap-shopt by him, but blocked by defender!

The power-play of Oulu is without any big chances, Kosice is defending really well for this moment.

Chovan had a space on left circle, made a nice wrist-shot, Karhunen had a good view and saved with right pad.

Kosice is not giving up, again in attacking zone, but there was no shot on Karhunen for now. We see a great, rush hockey with goals and scoring chances.

Dangerous situation right after the end of power-play, Spang made a great pass just in-front of Melichercik, there were two players of Oulu, but home goalkeeper stopped the puck.

Kosice survived this penalty, Cesik is now back on ice and the home team is playing full strenght.

Shot from blue-line was blocked by brave defender, puck is in neutral zone again. One minute left for Oulu in power-play.

Kosice took same time, shot the puck through all lines. Oulu is now again in attacking zone, but with no shoot yet.

Still the same game on the Ice – Oulu is attacking, Kosice is defending. Shots on goal – 0-9.

Shot by Glenn from blue-line, it was blocked by defender. Oulu stays in attacking zone.

Oulu is in great performance! Other chance by Finnish team by shot from right circle, Melichercik saved with stick. The face-off is coming.

That was a bad start for home team, it tries to attack, but Oulu is playing really well yet. Karhunen is without any save in his goal.

First attack from Kosice, but it ended in neutral zone with really bad pass. Oulu again in attack, trying to score an early goal.

No other chance for Oulu in power-play, home team is playing full strenght.

There is a power-play for Oulu, but Kosice are defending well. Melichercik didn´t have to do any save.

Everything is prepared for opening face-off. Fans are creating the right hockey atmosphere, it should be a great hockey evening, I wish you a great sport´s experience!

Finnish team is coming to the ice! Oulu will play in white-red jerseys tonight. Now, also the home team is on ice. Kosice will play in blue jerseys.

Starting lineups:

HC Košice: Melichercik (Hylak) – Cernak, Philipp, Jencik, Bartos, Spilar – Janosik, Cebak, Zagrapan, Bartanus, Lapsansky – Klouček, Drgon, Bicek, Kolena, Cesik – Strbak (C), Stupka, Chovan, Hindos, Hrnka.

Kärpät Oulu: Karhunen (Tarkki) – Kukkonen (C), Masuhr, Pyörälä, Deschamps, Davis – Spang, Glenn, Aho, Komulainen, Huml – Niemela, Vallin, Junttila, Kemppainen, Donskoi – Eminger, Manninen, Keränen, Suoranta, Alikoski.

Referees: W. Edqvist (SWE), J. Konc (SVK) – M. Korba (SVK), M. Smrek (SVK).

Ladies and gentlemen, I wish you good afternoon from Steel Aréna in Košice! The match between HC Košice vs. Kärpät Oulu starts in fifteen minutes. Fans are slowly coming to the Arena, in the morning, there were still 1700 tickets left, so we expect attendance about 7000 visitors.

Champions hockey league is coming to Košice – welcome! The second biggest city in Slovakia is expecting a great hockey evening and hosting the Finnish champion Kärpät Oulu. Both teams are in different situation – Oulu won the first match of group in Liberec, Košice lost in Kölner Haie. Saturday´s match of two champions should bring impressive hockey with many scoring chances and goals. I am looking forward to prepare you an on-line report on Saturday from 17:30.

First matches in group

Košice started their experience in CHL on Thursday in Kölner Haie. We saw a really interesting match in great atmosphere with superb performance of both teams. German team scored open-goal of match and added the second goal in second period. Haie capitalized all mistakes of Košice´s defense and thanks to that was score 2-0. Afterwards, Jiří Bicek scored first goal of Košice in CHL, but that was it, Kölner Haie won 2-1 and earned first victory. Košice took no points from Germany, but played in sympathetic way and missed little bit luck for second goal.

Oulu played also away match, in Liberec. And this was an amazing start of CHL for Finnish team! It scored four goals in first 30 minutes, so it was 4-0 for Kärpät! Czech team didn´t give up, scored three goals and was really close to equalizer, but Karhunen made several great saves. Oulu won 4-3 and earned first victory in CHL, it´s on the first place in group thanks to better score over Haie.

Qualification to Champions hockey league

Košice are the last season winner of Slovak hockey league. It won in final series of play-off against Nitra 4:3 on matches.

Kärpät also won the Finnish SM-Liiga. It won in final series against Tappara Tampere 4:3 on matches.

Kärpät Oulu

Kärpät is also one of the most successful and famous clubs of Finland. Team from north of Finland is known for great results in SM-liiga and for famous educational system – many Finnish represents grown up there. It is the last season winner of Finnish league and holder of 6 titles together. It also made two silvers and one bronze in last seasons. The roster is full of well-know players and represents of Finland – e.g. Lasse Kukkonen, Julius Juntilla or Mikko Alikoski are there. Ivan Huml, the Czech forward, was the most productive player of last season. Team plays in typical Finnish style, so we expect fast, technical ice hockey with many chances to score. The home games will be hosted in Raksila Sport Center for 6778 visitors.

HC Košice

Košice is the only one Slovak represent in Champions hockey league and the last season winner of Slovak league. It is a club with reach history, numerous trophies and great fans. Košice started the organized hockey competition in Slovakia and won 9 titles totally – 2 in common Czechoslovakian league and 7 in Slovak league. Club is proud of beautiful Steel Arena for 8347 visitors and of great fans, who are standing behind their team. Košice is called ,,Slovak Hockeytown,” and the great attendance is expected also for Saturday´s match. The team roster is quite interesting – you can find experienced players (such as like Peter Bartoš or Stanley cup winner Jiří Bicek), and young, talented players like Milan Kolena or Adam Lapšanský. Košice is really looking forward to Champions hockey league and to their first big international confrontation – and the time is coming now!

Welcome. This game starts at 17:30 CET, 18:30 EET.