Story Summary
Slovan’s ambition to place a team in the Czech Extraliga has moved into further discussion, but no decision has been made and the project remains at an early stage.
Jan Tůma, president of the Association of Professional Clubs, said a joint meeting did not decide on Slovan’s entry into the Extraliga. Instead, clubs agreed they need fuller material on the sporting, economic, marketing, technical and legal implications before judging whether the discussions should continue.
Slovan general manager Lukáš Havlíček has described the proposal as an expansion rather than a departure from Slovakia. He said the club would retain a team in Slovakia even if it entered the Czech competition, while referring to the Czech-based side as an “international team”.
The plan has drawn criticism from some Slovak Extraliga clubs. Havlíček said Slovan accepts its responsibilities but should not be cast as the club expected to keep the domestic league afloat or be told it cannot pursue an exit.
Any eventual move would still require substantial approval. Czech clubs would first need to approve the intention, while the Czech federation and the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation would also have to authorise a foreign team’s participation in the competition. The Slovak federation is also the governing body of the domestic Extraliga.
Key Facts
- Jan Tůma said the Association of Professional Clubs’ meeting was not a decision on Slovan entering the Extraliga.
- The clubs requested more detailed information on the sporting, economic, marketing, technical and legal consequences of the proposal.
- Lukáš Havlíček said Slovan would retain a team in Slovakia if it also placed a team in the Czech Extraliga.
- Havlíček characterised the proposal as an expansion of Slovan’s activities rather than a withdrawal from Slovak hockey.
- Some Slovak Extraliga clubs criticised the publicly announced Czech plan.
- Havlíček said Slovan would need to prepare a project that offers benefits to supporters, sponsors and both hockey environments.
- Slovan says it is prepared to assemble a side with a budget at the level of Sparta or Třinec and to be competitive.
- The proposal would need approval from Czech clubs, the Czech federation and the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation.
- The suggested timetable is not for next season; discussion has instead pointed towards 2028/29.
IHM Discussion
This is a governance and project-building exercise rather than a completed league move. Slovan’s stated intention to maintain a Slovak team is central to its case, but the proposal must also address how it would serve Slovak hockey as well as the Czech side of the arrangement.
The requested work spans far more than a playing squad. Sporting, financial, commercial, technical and legal issues all remain open, and the relevant clubs and federations would each have a role before any participation could be authorised. Havlíček’s reference to a Sparta- or Třinec-level budget signals the scale Slovan believes would be necessary, but it does not remove those approval hurdles.
Why It Matters
The proposal could affect both the Slovak Extraliga and the Czech Extraliga, but it has not reached a stage at which a place in the competition is secured. For Slovan, the task is to make a credible case across finances, organisation and sporting value. For Slovak hockey, the central question is whether the project can demonstrate benefits beyond the club itself.
The stated aim of keeping a team in Slovakia means the debate is not solely about a club leaving its domestic environment. Even so, the criticism from some domestic clubs underlines that Slovan will need to win support rather than rely on its own plans alone.
Mini Q&A
Has Slovan been admitted to the Czech Extraliga?
No. The meeting discussed the proposal, but Jan Tůma said it was not a decision on Slovan’s entry into the Extraliga.
Would Slovan leave Slovak hockey under the proposal?
Havlíček said Slovan would retain a team in Slovakia and described the Czech plan as an expansion rather than a departure.
When could Slovan’s Czech project begin?
It is not being discussed for next season. The indicated timeframe is 2028/29, subject to the project overcoming its remaining hurdles and securing approvals.
What Comes Next
The Czech and Slovak sides are working through their respective tasks and are due to meet again to discuss how the project could be implemented. Reportedly, 2028/29, rather than next season, is the timeframe being discussed if the proposal is able to clear its remaining obstacles.
IHM Final View
Slovan has opened a serious conversation about a Czech Extraliga team, but the important outcome so far is only an agreement to examine the proposal in greater depth. The club has set out an ambitious sporting and financial vision while insisting it does not intend to abandon Slovakia. Whether that vision becomes reality will depend on the detailed project and the approvals still ahead.