Another hockey season has flown by, so it's time to recap the achievements and overall results of the Kladno youth categories, including comments from the head coaches. For example, the ninth-grade team narrowly missed the playoffs, and the seventh-grade team dominated the playoffs, even against Sparta Prague. However, the seventh-grade B team also achieved remarkable successes, or did the sixth-grade team and how did the fifth-grade team cope with the first-year team on the big field?
9. CLASS
This year, the Extraliga ninth-year team tried to avoid the fight for survival and, on the contrary, try to get closer to the elimination battles. However, at the beginning, this task seemed very difficult, as Kladno only recorded its first victory in the fifth round. In the end, however, the machine got going relatively quickly and in the basic phase, the Knights finished around the middle of the table in seventh position, thus winning a continuation into the play-offs. Here, however, they were unable to deal with their biggest competitors Pilsen Wolves and Motor from České Budějovice at the right moment and promotion ultimately slipped through their fingers. In the play-offs, the Kladenets ranked third behind the aforementioned opponents. The main drivers of the offensive were the striking trio of Šimon Hamza, Denis Mařík and Tomáš Bejček, with the first-named team eventually reaching 40 Canadian points.
Head coach Jiří Zeman's assessment:
"From the perspective of individual player development and team functioning, this season was very beneficial for us. At the beginning of the year, we set clear goals – to improve our game skills, advance in tactics, and at the same time develop the right approach to training and matches. This season was also specific for us coaches, because it was our first season together with the team. I appreciate the work the boys did all the more throughout the year. Thanks to gradual improvement and an honest approach, we were able to stay in the play-off game until the very end of the regular season, when we still had two rounds left to fight for the last promotion spot. The boys made a significant step forward, especially in their work with the puck, their movement on the ice, and their game thinking. I also positively evaluate their commitment in training, where most of them tried to work hard and push their limits. Although we ultimately failed to advance to the playoffs, I evaluate the season as successful. The team has been avoided the fight for retention and did not play in the relegation or play-off group, which is a positive result considering the development during the year. I still see room for improvement mainly in the consistency of performances and in the details that often decide even matches. Finally, I would also like to thank the parents who got involved in the functioning of the team during the season, whether in terms of organization or any other form of help."
7. CLASS "A"
The seventh grade students defending the colors of the Knights fought their duels both in the Senior Pupils League B and in the DTS (Long-term Tournament Competition) played simultaneously. The strong Kladno class of 2013 first went through the basic part with an overview, where they competed with six other teams, of which the biggest competitors were Říčany and Prague's Sparta. However, they only lost once in the entire time, and that was in September at Sparta's ground, otherwise the Kladeňáci recorded 11 winning duels. Thanks to this placement, the Knights were in a better group in the form of a twelve-member group. Kladno once again fought for the top spots with their main competitor from Prague's Bubenč, but also with Junior Mělník. The Kladno seventh-grade team also lost their only matches to these teams. However, this did not deprive them of a valuable triumph in the form of first place. In addition, they once again slipped into the final final itself within the DTS, where they placed in an unpopular fourth place.
Head coach Jiří Kuchler's assessment:
"The assessment is entirely positive. The boys trained at a high intensity throughout, acquired the right playing habits, played confidently even at the cost of mistakes and transferred the skills learned from training to the match. I would like to praise the boys for how they were able to adapt to the two-year competition, where they were often faced with teams consisting of players a year older. It was physically more demanding, but on the other hand, the competition had a good level in the form of better quality matches. The team's character is also a great asset, which was reflected in the results. In the basic part of the union competition, we lost only one match and thus took first place. In the superstructure part, we lost two matches and also finished in first place. In the DTS competition, which was played concurrently, we made it to the final tournament again after a year. We are rightfully ranked among the best teams of the 2013 season. If the players maintain their current approach, hard work and team spirit, they have very good potential for the future."
7. CLASS "B"
The B-team of the Kladno seventh class played the same competition this season as the A-team, however, in the regular season they were in the secondary group. They also played twelve matches in it, but three teams were beyond their strength, namely Slavia, Rakovník and Prague's Kobra. Thanks to a close finish in fourth place, the Kladenets had to settle for the O-position. They did not do very well here at first, and with gradual improvement in performance and results, the Knights clawed their way up the table, which was enough for them to finally take a beautiful third place. Only the sovereign Čáslav finished higher, and Kutná Hora had one point more. The final post-season tournament in České Budějovice is also worth mentioning, where the Kladenets won a scalp in the form of gold medals.
