EDI-Flyer Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 So I decided to kickstart my hockey season viewing into action a little early. I am flying to Bratislava for four nights this week and thought I would check what Slovak hockey was on. I find out that Bratislava no longer has an Extraliga team, with Slovan Bratislava playing in the KHL instead... They have a game Tuesday evening, my first night in Bratislava and good tickets were available for 18 Euros ($21). Whilst I am not particularly keen on supporting anything Russian at the current time I figured that it would be an interesting experience and I am now the proud owner of a ticket. Point of interest for Flyers fans is that they just signed Kurtis Foster and he should make his debut Tuesday night. Apparently he had quite a successful season last year with the Croatian KHL team in Zagreb. The team has also just signed Matt Murley, a former Pittsburgh Penguin. He never really made it at the NHL level but played quite a few years in the AHL before heading overseas. It will be good to see at first hand the standard of the KHL and I will try and take some photos if anyone is interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murraycraven Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 So I decided to kickstart my hockey season viewing into action a little early. I am flying to Bratislava for four nights this week and thought I would check what Slovak hockey was on. I find out that Bratislava no longer has an Extraliga team, with Slovan Bratislava playing in the KHL instead... They have a game Tuesday evening, my first night in Bratislava and good tickets were available for 18 Euros ($21). Whilst I am not particularly keen on supporting anything Russian at the current time I figured that it would be an interesting experience and I am now the proud owner of a ticket. Point of interest for Flyers fans is that they just signed Kurtis Foster and he should make his debut Tuesday night. Apparently he had quite a successful season last year with the Croatian KHL team in Zagreb. The team has also just signed Matt Murley, a former Pittsburgh Penguin. He never really made it at the NHL level but played quite a few years in the AHL before heading overseas. It will be good to see at first hand the standard of the KHL and I will try and take some photos if anyone is interested. Definitely let us know how it goes EDI! Sounds like a a great trip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojo1917 Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 bon chance ami ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yave1964 Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 sounds like a freaking blast! It beats the hell out of my trip to Toledo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idahophilly Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 I don't think you are supporting Russia. You are supporting teams and fans who play and love hockey. With that said, keep your head down and get a penicillin shot when you come home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanflyer Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 sounds like a freaking blast! It beats the hell out of my trip to Toledo! Say hello to klinger from me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDI-Flyer Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share Posted September 15, 2014 Thanks for the good wishes guys I booked the trip a couple of months ago but hadn't really given the hockey side of things a thought until a day or so ago. I'm actually really looking forward to it now. I'll be wearing my Giroux Flyers jersey to the game, representing n all that. Fans are supposed to be real passionate and one of the positives is that there aren't many away fans travelling due to the distance so not much chance of trouble either. With that said, keep your head down and get a penicillin shot when you come home. Will definitely post an update and maybe some pictures when I get back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nossagog Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 EDI, what a great opportunity, have fun. Other that the hockey related questions you can report on, let us know of the other experiences at the game too because I'm pretty sure you not going to have a hot dog and a Bud as munchies. Maybe some haluski with spetzel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanflyer Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 It will be good to see at first hand the standard of the KHL and I will try and take some photos if anyone is interested. Been to prague and sweden for WJHC's. I loved both places. You should have fun. The atmosphere (at least at the WJHC's) in both places wast vastly different (and fun) vs. North America. Have fun and send us an update. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDI-Flyer Posted September 21, 2014 Author Share Posted September 21, 2014 Teams during the anthems... HC Slovan mascot... Covered entrance for the away team... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDI-Flyer Posted September 21, 2014 Author Share Posted September 21, 2014 No trapezoid behind the nets in the KHL... But lots of adverts on the ice! HC Slovan hall of famers, plus a skating great in Ondrej Nepela who the arena is named for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDI-Flyer Posted September 21, 2014 Author Share Posted September 21, 2014 A newspaper featuring the sad suicide of Miro Hlinka, just a few days before the game This was the only time this guy got scored on tonight... HC Slovan got shut out! A winning heritage... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDI-Flyer Posted September 21, 2014 Author Share Posted September 21, 2014 More championship banners... Nice Jumbotron... Stadium from the outside... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDI-Flyer Posted September 21, 2014 Author Share Posted September 21, 2014 Another arena shot... It only got worse from here... Kurtis Foster sighting!!! And no, he hasn't improved since he left Philadelphia, his standout shift of the evening was a Hartnell down moment... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDI-Flyer Posted September 21, 2014 Author Share Posted September 21, 2014 On the plus side, the cheerleaders were hot I do have some videos which I may post once I have checked the quality. Overall a good night out for a reasonable price. Whilst the food was the same international crap the prices were reasonable. You know you're in the right place when the local beer is cheaper than a Pepsi. 1.5 Euro's for 1/2 a litre of the local pilsener, happy days! Take that North America with your 8 dollar Molsons and Buds... The product on the ice? Well in all honesty I don't think the NHL has a lot to worry about. I was practically screaming several times during the game as literally no one made an attempt to screen the goalie on about 7 powerplays. Lack of physicality was also noticeable. I would love to have gone to the game on Saturday with CSKA Moscow to see what their level of play was like but my plane time meant this was impossible. For 18 Euros I would certainly go again if I was in town but I wouldn't go out of my way to see it. But overall it was a good experience and the fans were outstanding, such a contrast with North American hockey. I don't think they stopped chanting the whole game for more than a minute or two, real passion and excitement. If anyone does have any questions fire away and I will try and answer them if possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OccamsRazor Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 If anyone does have any questions fire away and I will try and answer them if possible. Thanks for sharing. Hot cheerleaders always help in anything!!! Was the guy who committed suicide playing hockey then? An old player or what never heard of him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDI-Flyer Posted September 21, 2014 Author Share Posted September 21, 2014 OR, the guy was a long time player well known in Slovakia. Played in the KHL, the Swedish and Finnish leagues too. Never played in North America but he was a member of the Slovak team that won the world championships back in 2002 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hf101 Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Thanks for the pics EDI That arena looks really nice except for the ice adverts. Glad you had a good time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 On the plus side, the cheerleaders were hot I do have some videos which I may post once I have checked the quality.Overall a good night out for a reasonable price. Whilst the food was the same international crap the prices were reasonable. You know you're in the right place when the local beer is cheaper than a Pepsi. 1.5 Euro's for 1/2 a litre of the local pilsener, happy days! Take that North America with your 8 dollar Molsons and Buds...The product on the ice? Well in all honesty I don't think the NHL has a lot to worry about. I was practically screaming several times during the game as literally no one made an attempt to screen the goalie on about 7 powerplays. Lack of physicality was also noticeable.I would love to have gone to the game on Saturday with CSKA Moscow to see what their level of play was like but my plane time meant this was impossible.For 18 Euros I would certainly go again if I was in town but I wouldn't go out of my way to see it.But overall it was a good experience and the fans were outstanding, such a contrast with North American hockey. I don't think they stopped chanting the whole game for more than a minute or two, real passion and excitement.If anyone does have any questions fire away and I will try and answer them if possible. Thanks for the recap. Sounds like fun. They neutered that in North America when they let the corporations take over the arenas. The K is an alternate to the NHL for both fans and players. But if you want to see or play in the best league, theres only one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDI-Flyer Posted September 22, 2014 Author Share Posted September 22, 2014 That arena looks really nice except for the ice adverts. It was redone for the 2011 World Championships, and is still in really nice shape. They neutered that in North America when they let the corporations take over the arenas. [sNIP] But if you want to see or play in the best league, theres only one. Agreed on both counts. Having said that you can still get some of the atmosphere when you watch junior hockey in the smaller towns, and some college hockey too for that matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 It was redone for the 2011 World Championships, and is still in really nice shape. Agreed on both counts. Having said that you can still get some of the atmosphere when you watch junior hockey in the smaller towns, and some college hockey too for that matter. True, to a point. Some of the junior rinks have had the life taken out of them as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J0e Th0rnton Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 Thanks for sharing. Hot cheerleaders always help in anything!!! Was the guy who committed suicide playing hockey then? An old player or what never heard of him.I dunno. I still think I would have preffered Doug Wilson making some moves via free agency than hiring ice girls this offseason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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