Fog cancels Czech Extraliga game

15 Sep 2014 | Petr Polák

Only thirteen minutes were played of the yesterday’s Czech Extraliga game between Kometa Brno and Zlín. The referee cancelled the game due to fog so massive, that nobody was able to see the puck.

It should have to be a reprise of last season’s final series. And for the home team fans, it should have to be a big revenge as well, because in late April, Zlín earned the Masaryk Cup and Brno climbed silver.

But actually, there was nothing to see at all. And we mean it literally. Due to weather conditions, dense fog covered the ice in the Kajot Arena and nobody was able to see the puck. Neither spectators, players nor referees.

“We even did not see the players,” the on-ice referee René Hradil said.

The play had to be interrupted several times during the first thirteen minutes of the game already. And as the situation seemed not going to be better, Hradil decided to ended the game up prematurely while the score was still 0-0.

Destiny of the game is in the hands of the League Commission, now. The most probable scenario seems to be that the game will be replayed in a substitutional term. So far it is unsure if either from the beginning or from the time 13:03 when the final whistle was heard.

Similar situation but with better end occurred in Hradec Králové on the same day. After just thirty seconds of the game against Sparta Prague, the play was interrupted due to fog as well. But in this case technicians were able to solve the issue and the game could continue till the home team’s final victory 3-1.

Follow the author on @polakEurohockey to be up to date with happening in the Czech ice-hockey.