New president of the Czech Ice Hockey Association Alois Hadamczik at a press conference, June 18, 2022, Prague.
Prague – President of the Czech Ice Hockey Association (ČSLH) Alois Hadamczik wants the national emblem to return to the national team jersey. Almost five years ago, the national team started using a newly created logo with a lion, which was part of a complete change in the identity of Czech hockey. However, the shape of the jerseys could change again, according to Hadamczik, ideally in the next season, when the World Cup will be held in the Czech Republic.
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Hadamczik spoke about the possible change for the first time on Tuesday evening in Pardubice at a gala event to celebrate the centenary of the East Bohemian club, and today he explained his plan on Czech television. He emphasized, however, that everything will be discussed by the executive committee of the ČSLH. Next week at the earliest.
“It was spontaneous and I didn't expect it to generate such huge interest,” Hadamczik said. According to his words, he spoke about the possibility of the emblem's return because he ceremoniously handed over a historic jersey to the representatives of Dynamo, on the back of which he wrote a wish for success in the future. “And as I was holding it, I said that I am carrying a beautiful jersey for them. I am convinced and not just me, it was evaluated as the best jersey we have ever had,” said Hadamczik, who last year replaced Tomáš Král as the head of the association.
The former leadership of the hockey association changed the identity and appearance of the jerseys in June 2018. Also in order to have legal protection when selling advertising items, including replica jerseys. According to Hadamczik, however, fans were not interested in jerseys with a new logo. “I found out how much money the new jersey made us, and when we saw that there was no money, I said to myself that we have to satisfy the nation. And if the nation did not agree with the jersey, then I began to think, what can we do ,” said Hadamczik.
CSLH representatives therefore had several proposals made for how the jerseys could look in the future. According to Hadamczik, in addition to the large state coat of arms, it would also include the union logo. “I would like to combine the licensed emblem with the national emblem so that they cannot copy it and people buy originals. We will discuss it,” said the head of the hockey union. There is also the possibility that the national team would start using blue in addition to the white and red version of the jerseys, as in the Czechoslovakian era.
If Hadamczik's plan is supported by the members of the executive committee, hockey players could start wearing jerseys with the dominant national emblem at the world championship in Prague next year. “I can promise the fans that I will do my best to have such a jersey there,” said Hadamczik
