PRAGUE – HC Sparta Praha fans could be in for a special treat this spring. The club is preparing to potentially host playoff games at the iconic Sportovní hala Fortuna in Holešovice, a venue steeped in hockey history, due to a scheduling conflict at their usual home, the O2 Arena.
The O2 Arena will be occupied by the World Figure Skating Championships from March 24th to 29th, forcing Sparta to consider alternative arrangements should they advance to the quarterfinals of the Czech Extraliga playoffs. This temporary relocation offers a unique opportunity to revisit a venue that holds a special place in the hearts of many Spartan supporters.
“Playing in the playoffs in both of our arenas is a big challenge for us,” said Jakub Dlouhý, a member of Sparta’s Board of Directors, as reported by hokej.cz. “For the fans, we will prepare the best sports experience in the O2 Arena with an even bigger audiovisual show. At the same time, they can enjoy a pure hockey event in the legendary hall where the history of our club was written. A packed Holešovice hall has always had a special magic.”
The Sportovní hala Fortuna, which holds 12,000 fans, has been a frequent site for Sparta’s pre-season games and Champions Hockey League matches. The prospect of returning for playoff action has generated considerable excitement among the club’s faithful.
However, Sparta’s path to a quarterfinal series in Holešovice isn’t guaranteed. As of today, March 5, 2026, they sit seventh in the Extraliga standings with 82 points, five points behind Mountfield HK for the fourth and final automatic qualifying spot. A loss to Hradec Králové on Sunday further complicated their chances of direct qualification.
If Sparta fails to secure a top-four finish, they will be forced to compete in a preliminary round. Should they prevail in that round, they would then play the entire quarterfinal series at the Sportovní hala Fortuna. Conversely, if they manage to climb into the top four before the conclude of the regular season, they would host the first two games of the quarterfinal series at the O2 Arena, with potential Games 5 and 7 shifting to Holešovice.
The club’s roster features a mix of veteran leadership and emerging talent. Key players include forwards Martins Dzierkals, Tomáš Hyka and Michal Řepík, along with defensemen Aaron Irving and Mark Pysyk. Goaltenders Josef Kořenář and Jakub Kovář will be crucial in Sparta’s playoff push. The full roster includes:
- Goaltenders: Josef Kořenář, Jakub Kovář, Martin Michajlov, Tomáš Volevecký
- Defensemen: Aaron Irving, Ronald Knot, Jakub Krejčík, Dominik Mašín, David Němeček, Mark Pysyk, Mikael Seppälä, Niko Seppälä, Jakub Sirota, Nino Tomov
- Forwards: Martins Dzierkals, Jan Eberle, Roman Horák, Kryštof Hrabík, Ondřej Hrabík, Tomáš Hyka, Filip Chlapík, Pavel Kousal, Jani Lajunen, Ondřej Najman, Filip Novák, Jiří Pospíšil, Adam Raška, Michal Řepík, Devin Shore, Michael Špaček, Petr Ton mladší, Kristian Veselainen, Michal Vitouch
The current Extraliga standings as of March 5, 2026, are as follows:
| TÝM | Z | V | VP | PP | P | SKÓRE | BODY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | HC Dynamo Pardubice | 50 | 26 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 161:112 | 97 |
| 2. | HC Škoda Plzeň | 50 | 23 | 5 | 8 | 14 | 135:102 | 87 |
| 3. | Bílí Tygři Liberec | 50 | 24 | 3 | 9 | 14 | 141:117 | 87 |
| 4. | Mountfield HK | 50 | 23 | 8 | 2 | 17 | 138:115 | 87 |
| 5. | HC Oceláři Třinec | 50 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 18 | 143:128 | 83 |
| 6. | HC Energie Karlovy Vary | 50 | 22 | 6 | 5 | 17 | 133:127 | 83 |
| 7. | HC Sparta Praha | 50 | 22 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 154:130 | 82 |
| 8. | HC Kometa Brno | 50 | 19 | 5 | 5 | 21 | 134:142 | 72 |
| 9. | Banes Motor České Budějovice | 50 | 18 | 5 | 6 | 21 | 137:142 | 70 |
| 10. | Rytíři Kladno | 50 | 17 | 5 | 6 | 22 | 123:130 | 67 |
| 11. | HC VÍTKOVICE RIDERA | 50 | 17 | 5 | 6 | 22 | 129:153 | 67 |
| 12. | HC Olomouc | 50 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 26 | 117:151 | 63 |
| 13. | BK Mladá Boleslav | 50 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 24 | 101:135 | 62 |
| 14. | HC VERVA Litvínov | 50 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 32 | 105:167 | 43 |
Regardless of where they play, Sparta is determined to create a deep playoff run. The potential return to the Sportovní hala Fortuna adds an extra layer of nostalgia and excitement for fans, harking back to a golden era of Spartan hockey. As Dlouhý noted, “A packed Holešovice hall has always had a special magic.”
Sparta’s next game is scheduled for [insert next game details here – *verification needed*]. Fans can stay updated on the team’s progress and playoff schedule through the official HC Sparta Praha website: https://www.hcsparta.cz/index.asp.
Will the echoes of past triumphs resonate in Holešovice this spring? Only time will tell, but the possibility has undoubtedly ignited the passion of Sparta fans.
