Ružinov Amateur Hockey League 2

It is the only league entering the season with no change in its lineup of teams. The eight teams start on Sunday, 6 September at 8:30 — and last year the title was only decided in the third game of the final.

The RAHL2 semifinals kicked off with huge drama that was only settled in a shootout. The hero for Uličníci Pressburg was Martin Ligas, who was the only one of ten shooters to score and secured the 2:1 win over Hockey For All. But if you were expecting the Player of the Week to sing his own praises, you would be wrong. In the interview he was thoroughly hard on himself, heaped praise on flawless goaltender Berenčík and, with his trademark humor, described why, before the decisive moment of the game, he chose to stop listening to tactical advice from a teammate.

A perfect quarterfinal showing! Uličníci Pressburg eliminated team Alpha with an aggregate score in which goaltender Berenčík did not allow a single goal. The key figure in the 4:0 win in the return game was Lukáš Urban, who scored twice. The newly named Player of the Week takes the success with humility, praises the work of the whole team and, looking ahead to the semifinal against Hockey For All, warns against complacency. The regular season is long forgotten, after all, and the series starts from zero.

Although there was nothing left at stake in the game, HK Petržalka left nothing to chance and, in the last round of the RAHL2 regular season, comfortably beat team Alpha 5:1. The main star of the game was Štefan Pillár, who, after his winter return to the league, carried his team with a 2+1 night. In a candid interview, however, he admits that fourth place fell far short of the team's ambitions. Read how the team is getting ready for a demanding quarterfinal against Senec, why they turn to video analysis before games and how Pillár feels on the ice after a longer break.

The fight for the last playoff berth in RAHL2 is coming to a head, and you could cut the tension with a knife. But Alpha Hockey Team passed the key game against Trnava Beast with flying colors and, after a 4:2 win, sent its rivals a clear message that it can play under pressure. The main figure on offense, with three points, was Alek Ivan (1+2), who nevertheless rejects the role of hero and highlights the team's one hundred percent discipline. Read how the team prepared for this important step, why they are holding back the celebrations in the locker room and which opponent Alek would like to run into in the elimination stage.

The Petržalka derby in RAHL2 had one undisputed ruler. TJ Družstevník Petržalka crushed rival HK Petržalka 7:2, and Peter Tisovský contributed two goals and an assist. In the interview, the newly named Player of the Week revealed why he was playing on “light legs,” how he sees the key game for first place against Uličníci and what manager Martin Rázus means to the locker room – including his little “slip-up” with the deducted points.

The marquee matchup between neighbors in the RAHL2 standings turned into a one-sided affair. Uličníci rolled over HK Petržalka 5:1, and Christian Badalov deserves a big share of the credit. With 2 goals and 2 assists, he became Player of the Week. Although his team is now only two points off first place, Christian stays pragmatic. In the interview he explains why chasing first place is secondary and what the key was to the clear win over a tough opponent.

The game against Uličníci had a special flavor for Alpha's goaltender. At the other end of the rink stood his good friend Luke Ďurža. But Richard Kazík set friendship aside during the game, withstood the favorite's pressure and, after a 1:0 win, is celebrating a shutout. Read how he rates this prestigious “mini-duel” and why he modestly insists that shutouts are not his doing alone.