The 2021/22 Champions Hockey League season got underway last night, and for the title defenders Frölunda Gothenburg, things went exactly as you would expect.
A 4-1 victory over BK Mladá Boleslav on Gameday 1 sets them up nicely for the rest of the Group Stage with an eye on progressing all the way to being crowned champions of Europe once more.
For 24-year-old Michal Špaček, it was a great way to begin his career with the Swedish side.
“It was definetly a tough match. We had known that Boleslav are a tough and tenacious opponent”Michal Špaček of Frölunda Gothenburg after their opening game win over BK Mladá Boleslav
That knowledge of their opposition came partly through Špaček himself. Last season he spent time in Finland and also in the Czech Republic, where he won the Czech title with Oceláři Třinec, playing Mladá Boleslav in the playoff semi-finals, with the coaches even turning to their new forward for help preparing for the game.
"They had asked me about Boleslav because, as I mentioned, I played against them last season in the playoff semi-finals.
"I told them that Boleslav were a tough opponent. It is a team full of young players who play to the fullest and they do not tend to give up anything.
"In my opinion, we prepared well for the opponent, we certainly did not underestimate anything."
Things started perfectly for Frölunda, taking control of the game early as they got to work to secure victory.
“In my opinion, we dominated the first 40 minutes, we were strong on the puck and we scored goals. We certainly controlled the pace of the game, specifically in the first two periods”
Frölunda led by three goals after the opening period, adding their fourth in the second with Mladá Bolelsav’s only response coming late in the third period to deny the reigning CHL champions an opening game shutout.
For Špaček, it’s not his first taste of Nordic hockey, but his first time playing for a club in Sweden.
“Swedish hockey is definitely different from Finnish, It is faster. I have a lot of to do, but I believe that I will adapt to Swedish hockey and will feel more comfortable.”
Last season, many games across the hockey world were played without fans, so for Špaček to return to the Czech Republic for his opening game with fans in attendance, it was certainly a great feeling.
“Last season we played without any spectators, so it was great that the fans could be here again. In Bolelsav, the arena is small so their cheering was even louder.”
Frölunda continue their title defence on Saturday when they take on ZSC Lions Zurich who will be looking for a bounce back performance after a 3-0 opening game loss to IFK Helsinki.