Czech's Most Popular Sport: Ice Hockey

Introduction:

When thinking about Europeans and their sports, most people might think about "Futbol" (aka soccer for us Americans). But this is not necessarily accurate in the Czech Republic. (Of course, they still play soccer here, and it is on the rise as a lower cost sport) However, the most popular sport is still ice hockey! 

What tradition did I learn about?:

While I have not yet gone to a hockey game, I have learned some things about this sport during my short time in the Czech Republic so far. Hockey is a common club sport that is played throughout the country, and there is a national team that plays during the Olympics that is quite good! The national team has won many gold medals. There are many famous ice hockey players from the Czech Republic who are in the NHL and other teams too! Many are drafted into the different teams in the U.S. and Canada, as well as into other hockey clubs in different countries. The chief hockey club in Prague, from my understanding, is Hockey Club Sparta Praha.  This club is part of the Czech Extraliga which is the highest-level ice hockey league in the Czech Republic that was started after the dissolution of the former country of Czechoslovakia. There is another club called Hockey Club Slavia, but I have not heard as much about it, although both teams are based here in Prague. 

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