A few words to the sixth year...

In its sixth year the EuroMiniHockeyLeague grew. We have welcomed other teams to play with us. Thanks to the Dunaújvárosi team, our European family has grown by another country - Hungary. Several teams from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria, which regularly participate in our tournaments, have been convinced that hockey is a popular sport in Hungary. The Dunaújvárosi team was by no means only to make up the number; on the contrary, they played balanced matches even with the best teams. We are very pleased that this season precisely this club may host the Final Tournament of the EMHL for the U9 category. And for the first time in the history it is going to be a two-day tournament. This season we introduced the rule that the teams that will play on a regular basis with (at least) three alternating trios will gain a bonus point. It has certainly helped. Although the position in the table is not the most important thing in the world, teams tried to play with at least the minimum of 9 players. The average number of players increased from 7.6 to 9.4! Giving the opportunity to the greatest possible number of players is one of the main objectives of the EuroMiniHockeyLeague. The teams that are able regularly season after season to expand the player base deserve for sure our recognition. The Final Tournament of the EMHL U10 category is for the first time held outside of Bratislava. The opportunity was seized by the Junior Club Vienna Capitals team. Thanks to the people of the Capitals team, the Final Tournament U10 category will receive a spectacular finish. The U10 category clearly belonged to the HC Brumov-Bylnice team. This team full of individualities has shown its strength in every match. In Brumov they do know how to do hockey right, from year to year they are improving training conditions for their children. It is a good chance that this small friendly town can become one of the bastions of the Czech (and possibly Slovak) hockey. Categories U9 have been properly balanced on the top. It certainly had the highest level in the history of the EMHL. We can be proud of the children. Hats off to what they are able to do with the puck at such a young age. And it was not just the boys who showed us the hockey art. Even this season in several teams we saw the girls. Some have even belonged to the leaders of their team (Hanka from Petržalka, Anka from Vienna, Zuzka from the Sharks, Emca from Nove Zamky and others). And what will the seventh year of the EMHL bring us? And what do we want it to bring us? We would like the children to play hockey as much as they will want, not to be restrained by the outdated rules and not to be pushed by overly ambitious parents, but to be soundly supported, given proper space to find lasting and only a positive attitude towards sport called hockey. Thanks to all (organizational team, coaches, team leaders, referees, scorer, parents, fans) who contributed to the further successful year of the EuroMiniHockeyLeaguey! ;-)

Mgr. Lubomir Líška, Chief Organizer of the EMHL