German DEL and Slovak Extraliga games part of outdoor hockey weekend in Prague

The Czech Extraliga announced months ago an extended weekend of outdoor hockey events in early December at a temporary 16,000-seat venue to be constructed in Prague’s Letná Park. They have now announced an updated schedule of seven games over four days that includes two Extraliga games, one from the Czech second-tier Maxa Liga, and one each from the top leagues in Slovakia and Germany. The German DEL game between Grizzlys Wolfsburg and perennial powerhouse Red Bull Munich is a new addition to the schedule.

“We are very happy that we were able to successfully conclude negotiations with representatives from the top German league,” said Extraliga director Martin Loukota. “The clubs from Wolfsburg and Munich will make the already busy Winter Hockey Games program even more attractive.”

This is apparently the first DEL game to be played abroad but not the first cross-border outdoor hockey event between the two neighboring countries and leagues. In January 2020, Czech teams Litvínov and Sparta Prague played an Extraliga game in Dresden, Germany as part of an outdoor hockey weekend.

“We are very pleased that we can continue our good cooperation with the Czech Extraliga through this international event,” said DEL managing director Gernot Tripcke. “At the same time, it is a great honor for us that a DEL game is so important to our partners in the Czech Republic that they want to enhance their event with it. And for the fans of our two teams from Wolfsburg and Munich, the trip to Prague will certainly be a special experience.”

Thursday, December 5:
17:30 Czechia – Slovakia (university teams)

Friday, December 6:
12:30 Grizzlys Wolfsburg – EHC Red Bull Munich (German DEL)
17:30 HC Škoda Plzeň – Banes Motor České Budějovice (Czech Extraliga)

Saturday, December 7:
12:30 HC Slovan Bratislava – HC Košice (Slovak Extraliga)
17:30 HC Sparta Prague – HC Kometa Brno (Czech Extraliga)

Sunday, December 8:
12:30 HC Slavia Prague – VHK ROBE Vsetín (Czech 2^nd tier league)
17:30 Czechia – International stars (oldtimers game)