Havlickuv Brod vs Znojmo

Three periods of scoreless hockey at Zimní stadion Kotlina (attendance: 207) gave little hint of a dramatic finish. Both goaltenders — Novák for Brod and Ondráček for Znojmo — kept clean sheets through 60 minutes as chances were scarce in a tight, physical pre-season contest.

The deadlock broke nine seconds into overtime. With Znojmo still serving Svoboda's major penalty for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct, assessed right after the third-period horn, Brod worked the puck around the zone. David Vala fed Marek Kopic, whose pass found Sedláček for the one-timer at 61:00 — a power-play goal that ended the game.

The match turned before overtime even started. With the final buzzer of regulation sounding at 60:00, Znojmo's Denis Svoboda received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct. The penalty carried into the extra period, handing Havlíčkův Brod a 5-on-4 advantage for the opening five minutes of sudden-death overtime. It took them just nine seconds to convert.

Miroslav Sedláček (Havlíčkův Brod) — Player of the match. The forward scored the only goal of the game, finishing a crisp passing play on the power-play at 61:00. His movement to the scoring area created the lane for Kopic's feed.

David Vala (Havlíčkův Brod) — The defenseman started the scoring sequence with a zone-entry pass and logged heavy minutes in a game that tilted on special teams.

Novák / Cinka (Havlíčkův Brod) — Brod's goaltending tandem combined for a shutout. Novák started and was replaced by Cinka at 41:00, with neither beaten through 60-plus minutes.

Ondráček (Znojmo) — Znojmo's netminder kept his team in the game through regulation with a solid performance, only to be beaten on the delayed OT power-play.

A 0–0 regulation scoreline in a pre-season friendly between two Czech 2. liga sides tends to suggest either excellent goaltending or a lack of attacking cohesion. In this case, it was a bit of both. Brod outshot Znojmo but neither team found consistent offensive zone time. The only penalty that truly mattered was Svoboda's — a discipline lapse at the worst possible moment that decided a game that had been evenly poised. Znojmo's pre-season pattern of conceding late or in extra time continues.

Havlíčkův Brod won their fourth of five pre-season games (dating back to early August 2026) and look well-prepared for the start of the 2. liga season on 19 September away at HC Děčín. Their next friendly is on 3 September at IHC Králové Písek.

Znojmo, meanwhile, lost their third consecutive pre-season fixture — a run that includes a 0–8 defeat to Třebíč and two 1–0 OT losses to Havlíčkův Brod (the earlier one on 18 August in Znojmo). The Orli underwent a massive summer rebuild with only six players retained from last season's roster, and the new-look squad is still searching for its first pre-season win. Znojmo open their 2. liga campaign at home against Opava on 19 September.

A pre-season game decided by a moment of indiscipline rather than a moment of quality. Znojmo's roster overhaul needs time to gel, but three pre-season losses — two of them in overtime — are a concern with the league start less than four weeks away. Brod look sharper and deeper, their fourth win suggesting a solid foundation for the season ahead.