Hockey Sparta: Club Crisis & Radical Changes

Sparta lost again in the extra league and is falling down the table. The club management ran out of patience. It was decided to radically solve the problems with discipline.

The giant of the hockey extra league is experiencing rough times. He has lost five of the last seven extra-league games. The last time it was not enough against Hradec Králové (1:2 after separate raids). The Prague club fell from first place in the table to seventh place. Things are boiling in the cabin during unsuccessful matches and after them. But long and emotional speeches do not help. The leadership of Sparta therefore decided to solve the situation radically.

Jiruš: We cannot afford this

Players will feel the underperformance on payouts. Fines await them. It’s not just that something doesn’t work out for them. The coaches feel that the hockey players are not very disciplined. “There is a lot of criticism going into the cabin. We are not disciplined and responsible for the result. We will already fine the players because we cannot afford this. It is costing us points and positions in the table.” Valdemar Jiruš, assistant to Sparta head coach Jaroslav Nedvěd, was angry during an interview with the media.

He then elaborated on his sharp words. “The players should have responsibility for the team. For their performance. They have to give their best on the ice so that the team scores. Unfortunately, I don’t see that personal responsibility and game discipline. We are experiencing great disappointment. We have to knock ourselves out as soon as possible and start winning at home. The home record is really very bad.” added Jiruš, one of Sparta’s coaches, at the press conference.

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The misery of Sparta on home ice

The statistics speak clearly. Sparta scored only 31 points in the Libeň Arena. Only Mladá Boleslav and Litvínov (29) won fewer points at home. Violation of discipline is one of the factors that make the Prague club suffer. With Hradec, he lost a narrow lead in the very end when, after a student error, he let the opponent score from a break on his own power play.

Jiruš couldn’t understand it. Just like the fans who booed the players. In the opinion of the SportyŽivě editors, something like this is simply unacceptable. “Individual failure on the power play cost us points. Then we did another stupid thing. We were undisciplined again and gave the opponent a power play that carried into overtime.” added Jiruš. Striker Pavel Kousal was the one who was needlessly sent off on Sparta’s side.