The shortest route to victory

04 Feb 2014 | Davide Tuniz

CSKA Sofia won double in Bulgaria playing just 5 games

Bulgarian hockey celebrates this year a record at least singular: season is over with just 8 games played, enough to crown national champion and cup winner. CSKA Sofia again dominates the scenes winning the double but club played 5 games (included one technical 5-0 because opponent didn't show up on the ice) to grab the trophies in a season described as "ridiculous" by Sportal.bg, the only media to follow icehockey in Bulgaria.

Before the start of the league, traditional team Levski Sofia announced club won't complete due to lack of funds, so federation decided to add Bulgaria U20 team, besides champion CSKA, Slavia Sofia and NSA Sofia. But games played by U20 team doesn't count for the standing. Championship should have played in two round robin. After the first one - where NSA forfeited a game against CSKA - the leading team was declared the winner of Bulgaria Cup. CSKA finished with a perfect 3-0 record (11-2 against Bulgaria U20, 5-0 forfeit against NSA, 8-2 against Slavia) bringing home the first trophy of the season.

Reigning champion began second round with two more victories - 12-4 against Bulgaria U20 and 14-2 against NSA - conquering mathematically the league with a game left to play, so Federation decided not to pay unecessary money for an insignificant game, cancelled CSKA - Slavia scheduled for January 30 and the remaining games. So the championship ends after 8 games in which one not played and 4 - the Bulgaria U20 ones - not relevant for the classification. One of the lowest pages of Bulgarian hockey history. Meanwhile, and probably not casually, U20 national team was relegated in III Division