Slovak professional hockey leagues prepare for new season start

The new seasons for Slovakia's top professional ice hockey leagues are set to begin in mid-September. The Tipsport Extraliga kicks off on September 15 with a high-profile matchup between Nitra and Slovan Bratislava, a rematch of the previous season's final. The league features 54 regular-season games and introduces a new disciplinary code modeled after European standards.

Following the Extraliga, the TIPOS Slovak Hockey League (SHL) begins on September 16. The SHL will maintain its current format with twelve teams competing for two promotion spots via a playoff and baráž system. The regular season consists of 44 games, including matchups against the Slovak U18 national team. Notable roster changes in the SHL include veteran players such as Martin Réway, Oleksandr Plochotnikov, Marek Viedenský, and Martin Štajnoch joining various clubs to strengthen their campaigns for promotion.

Additionally, the Slovak Hockey Federation has announced the All-Star team for the previous season, featuring players such as Eugen Rabčan, Ryan Sproul, and Mislav Rosandič. Matúš Vojtekh was awarded the Boris Sádecký Prize for the most beautiful goal of the season.