Dynamo Pardubice have spent the past 65 years in the top Czech league, and over the past 42 years have won six championships. The club also has a reputation for producing talent – some of the top Czech stars over that time over the years.

by David Zaruba

Dynamo Pardubice are one of the most successful clubs in the history of the Czech league. The club has won the national championship six times, including three times since 2005. Pardubice can rely on a wide fan base, and their home games at Tipsport Arena regularly attract the highest annual attendance in the country. There, they have produced a number of world-renowned hockey players such as Vladimir Martinec, Dominik Hasek and Ales Hemsky.

First steps

At the beginning of the 20th century, the ice sport bandy was popular in Pardubice. The first game of "Canadian hockey" was played in 1913 on Lake Maticni when a team of locals played against a team visiting from Prague. Pardubice’s squad included Vilem Weiss, who organized the club LTC a decade later. The team has undergone a few name changes since then (Slavia, Dynamo, Tesla, and a variety of corporate sponsors), but continues playing to this day.

Construction of a new arena began after World War II and opened in 1947. It didn't have a roof or bear much resemblance to the club's home rink today, but they continue to play at the same site. In 1949–50, Pardubice won in their division and was promoted to the top Czechoslovakian national league, and since then have never been relegated.

1960 was a big year for the club. They finished third place to win their first medal, and as well the roof of their arena was completed.

Great players write history

In the 1972–73 season Pardubice won their first national championship, dominating the regular season and playoffs as well. The team's biggest star was Vladimir Martinec, who formed a dangerous line with Bohuslav Stastny and Jiri Novak. The trio also played together on the Czechoslovakian national team for many years. Winning the championship meant qualifying for the European Cup, and Pardubice breezed through the first three rounds to meet powerful CSKA Moscow in the final. On their home ice, Pardubice opened the series with a 3–2 victory over the star-studden Soviet squad, to the delight of their fans. In the second leg in Moscow, however, CSKA won 6–1 to take the series on goal difference.

Pardubice remained a competitive team throughout the decade, with Martinec continuing to score and Jiri Crha playing goal. Crha eventually defected to Canada in 1979, becoming the first Czech goalie to play in the NHL. But it was another Pardubice goalie who achieved even greater fame. Dominik Hasek won championship titles with Pardubice in 1986–87 and 1988–89 and then went on to one of the most dominant careers in NHL history.

The '90s were very unpredictable for Pardubice. The team made the finals in 1994, but two years later had to battle to avoid relegation. The organization continued to develop talented young players such as Petr Sykora and Milan Hejduk, both of whom would have success in the NHL.

Modern era with modernized arena

In 2001, the arena in Pardubice was extensively renovated so that it could now accommodate more than 10,000 fans, making it the second-largest hockey arena in the country at the time (now third-largest). On-ice success followed, as Pardubice finished first overall during the 2003–04 regular season, only to be defeated by HC Pilsen in a seven-game quarter-final series.

The quest for a fourth title would have to wait until 2005, when they swept PSG Zlin in the finals. They won the championship under the leadership of captain Jiri Dopita and Slovakian goaltender Jan Lasak. Thanks to the cancelled NHL season, Pardubice were able to use Jan Bulis, Michal Mikeska and Hejduk, who were the top three scorers in the league during the regular season, and Ales Hemsky, who won the playoff MVP.

Before the 2009–10 season, 45-year-old Hasek returned to play for Pardubice for the first time in almost a quarter of a century. Hasek led the team into the playoffs, and then Pardubice lost only one game and won 12 to celebrate the club's fifth championship. Two years later, the team added a sixth title, beating Kometa Brno in six games in the finals. The team was led by Petr Koukal and Jan Kolar, and their heroics were noticed – both received offers to go to Nizhnekamsk of the KHL the following season.

Looking ahead

The seasons since the team's most recent title have not up to the usual standard. In 2015, the club decided to look into its past to come up with a new name – Dynamo Pardubice. Moving forward, the team hopes to climb back to the top of the Extraliga standings, as well as to achieve international success in the Champions Hockey League.

Team facts

Past CHL seasons

2015-16: 3rd in Group E
2014-15: 4th in Group F

NOTE: This article has been updated since its original publication.

Click here for current information about the club.