Story Summary
HC Kometa Brno are entering a landmark season with owner Libor Zábranský back behind the bench. Kamil Pokorný and Jiří Horáček return as his assistants, while Martin Erat will work with the staff on a limited basis, with particular focus on the power play. The squad has been reshaped in defence and in goal, and the club is scheduled to open its new 12,714-seat T-Mobile Arena at the Exhibition Centre on 10 January 2027. Zábranský’s stated aim is clear: Kometa are again chasing the title.
Key Facts
- Libor Zábranský has returned behind the Kometa Brno bench after four years and remains the club owner.
- Zábranský said he had planned the move this way.
- Kamil Pokorný and Jiří Horáček will serve as assistants and lead the training sessions.
- Martin Erat has joined as an additional assistant on a limited schedule. Based in Nashville, he is expected to be in Brno at intervals during the season and help chiefly with the power play.
- Eugen Rabčan, 25, has arrived from Banská Bystrica in Slovakia and will compete with Jan Kavan for the back-up role behind Aleš Stezka.
- Kometa have parted with defenceman Brandon Davidson, who missed the previous season with health issues. Returns by homegrown players Kučeřík, Svozil and Mikyska, plus the arrival of Richard Nedomlel, have increased competition on the blue line.
- Kometa plan to use seven defencemen in games, with a crowded blue line likely to require further player movement for ice time.
- Thirty-six-year-old Luke Witkowski, who arrived from the Swedish league, has looked strong in pre-season.
- The multifunctional T-Mobile Arena at the Exhibition Centre is scheduled to open on 10 January 2027 and will hold 12,714 for hockey.
- The club will operate the arena and retain its facilities at the Rondo on Křídlovická Street.
- Sparta are set to be the first opponent in the new arena. The venue may require fixture changes if hockey dates clash with cultural events.
IHM Discussion
Kometa have placed authority clearly with Zábranský, who combines ownership with leadership of the bench. Pokorný and Horáček will handle training sessions, bringing back a coaching partnership that helped the club win titles in 2017 and 2018. Erat’s limited availability means his value will be most apparent in focused work on the power play rather than day-to-day involvement. In goal, Stezka is the established starter, with Kavan and Rabčan competing to become his deputy. The sharpest competition is on defence: Kometa intend to dress seven defencemen, and the depth created by returning homegrown players and Nedomlel leaves difficult roster decisions ahead.
Why It Matters
This season carries both sporting and infrastructural significance for Kometa. Zábranský’s return to the bench, the emphasis on homegrown players and the planned move to a new arena give the club a clear sense of direction. The key hockey questions are how the blue-line depth is managed and whether the back-up goaltending competition produces reliable support for Stezka. A successful transition into the new building would add further momentum to Kometa’s title push.
Mini Q&A
Who will coach Kometa?
Libor Zábranský has returned behind the bench and remains the club owner.
What will Martin Erat’s role be?
Erat is an additional assistant with limited availability. He will be in Brno at intervals from Nashville and is expected to help chiefly with the power play.
What is the goaltending situation?
Aleš Stezka is the established starter, while Jan Kavan and new arrival Eugen Rabčan of Banská Bystrica will compete for the back-up role.
Why has Kometa reshaped its defence?
The club has a crowded group of defencemen after the returns of homegrown players and the arrival of Richard Nedomlel. Brandon Davidson has departed, and Kometa plan to use seven defencemen in games.
When is the new T-Mobile Arena due to open, and what is its capacity?
The multifunctional arena at the Exhibition Centre is scheduled to open on 10 January 2027. It will hold 12,714 for hockey and be operated by the club.
Coach Mark Comment
Kometa’s depth on defence makes communication essential. With seven defencemen expected to dress, players need clarity on their roles and opportunities. Pokorný and Horáček’s control of training can provide that daily structure, while Erat’s specialist power-play work can be most effective when it is clearly integrated into the staff’s plan.
IHM Final View
Kometa begin the season with ambition, a familiar coaching core and a deeper blue line. The planned opening of the T-Mobile Arena adds another major moment to the campaign. How the club manages its defensive depth and the battle for the back-up goaltending role will help determine whether those title ambitions are realised.