Representatives agree varsity athletes need better support












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            By Jan Velinger and Marcela Uhlíková
            September 4, 2019


            As players of Charles University’s varsity hockey team (UK Praha) readied for the new seas
            the European University Hockey Association and CU Rector Tomáš Zima held a press event at 

            outlining the importance of hockey for the school as well as the need for greater support 
            athletes to better combine study and sport.



            In the past, highly-skilled players who wanted to play and showed significant promise but 
            of going professional in the top flight were often forced to eventually give up their spor

            Charles University Rector Tomáš Zima, varsity hockey officials, as well as others such as 
            Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport's Kateřina Valachová want that t
            gist? That students should receive stronger backing to be able to pursue sports at a high 

            with their studies within the education system. Speaking to journalists, Ms. Valachová sai
            her utmost to push for improvements and expressed confidence that a new bill on university
            help in stopping what she called a brain-drain of students for whom sports scholarships ab

            to be an important path forward.



            There is a history on which to build when it comes to amateur clubs and Rector Tomáš Zima 
            opportunity to point out that Charles University had long placed an emphasis on sports and
            hockey team, he noted, had been a part of the European University Hockey League (EUHL) [ U

            www.euhl.eu"] since 2013. He called the team an excellent example and made clear it was in
            eminent interest to be represented by the club in both domestic and international competit
            last year was a bit of a bust regarding the title race, the rector reminded attendees that

            previously clinched four titles and he expressed confidence that this season the team’s fo
            again improve.


            First puck to drop in new varsity hockey season

            Founded in 2013, the EUHL is the premiere European university hockey league. The league is

            and the league’s patron is former Minnesota Wild defenceman Ľubomír Sekeráš – a legend for
            slapshot from the blue line before he hung up his skates.


            iForum asked UK Praha’s new head coach Michal Broš where things stood at the moment for th
            the new season and first meeting this week:


            “Our first practice is coming up so we’ll have to see what of condition we’re in. But I ex
            some work ahead of us. Strong ambition is certainly important: the coach isn’t the only pe
            boat, so I will be glad if we all enter the season with a lot of heart and 100 percent com

            a strong team is always a challenge, and it doesn’t matter whether you are talking about a
            or a professional team.”


            Coaching this club, he added, was for him “a matter of the heart”.



            Want to see UK Praha in action? The squad’s first match will be against HK LEV Slany on Se
            at 17h00 at the Víceúčelové sportovní hala SLANÝ in Slaný.