The Pardubice hockey team clinched the top position in the Extraliga three rounds before the end of the regular season, earning them the Jaroslav Pouzar Cup. With a significant lead of 11 points ahead of second-placed Plzeň, this victory sets them on a path to further successes in the playoffs. In the latest round, Pardubice triumphed over the last-placed Litvínov with a score of 4-1, solidifying their standing as the top team.

Pardubice's achievement marks their eighth victory in the regular season of the Extraliga, showcasing a strong performance as they secure the top position for the third time in four years. Last year, the playoffs saw Prague's Sparta progressing from the first position. Historically, Pardubice previously dominated the Czechoslovak league in the 1970s and 1980s, and they successfully won the Czech Extraliga in the early 2000s, proving their status as a formidable hockey club.

The playoff framework allows the top four teams direct advancement to the quarterfinals, where Pardubice currently leads the table, followed by Plzeň, Liberec, and Hradec Králové, all tied with the same points but ranked by goal difference. Sparta’s recent victory over Plzeň, marked by an impressive performance from player Michal Řepík, who scored twice and assisted once, has positioned them closer to being competitive in the playoff race, reducing the gap with Plzeň to just two points.