HC Pilsen centre and Pilsen native Jakub Koreis is back with his hometown team after a long period of time playing for other teams around the world and elsewhere in the Czech Republic. On Thursday, he played a hand in getting the team through to the Round of 32. 

by Lucie Muzikova

PILSEN – In a game to decide second place in Group J and a spot in the Round of 32, HC Pilsen beat the Stavanger Oilers 6-4 in front of their home fans. Jakub Koreis, back with the club he grew up in after being away 13 years, assisted on the Pilsen's fifth goal, which turned out to be the game-winner, and scored the sixth. Those were the 32-year-old centre's first two points in the CHL. 

Jakub, how difficult was to play such an important game in early September?

“Not very – we managed it pretty well, obviously. We scored a few quick goals, then maybe we let ourselves slow down a bit and let Stavanger get close to us, but we killed the critical four-minute penalty and protected our leading safely to the end.”

Stavanger scored three power-play goals on seven opportunities in the game. Did they surprise you somehow?

“No, not at all. The first game, we were prepared to face their great power play and we managed to kill off all of our penalties. Today they got three goals, which is too much, and we can't let that happen again.”

You scored your team's sixth goal and it was easy to see that you were really happy about it. 

(Smiling) “Yes, I really was. It is so great to be back on my home ice in my hometown rink. But this was something we planned. Our defencemen are supposed to send the puck from the blueline and we should be at the goal trying to tip it. It worked today perfectly.” 

It's still summer weather out there. How did you manage to survive on the hot ice?

“It was difficult, but we are all pros and we did it as we were supposed to. Now we can look forward to a new opponent in the next round.”

Yes, you will play in the Round of 32 in October and it shouldn't be so hot by then. But first, Pilsen's first game of the new Czech Extraliga season is Sunday. Are you guys ready?

“We definitely hope so. We were lucky enough to play CHL games against great opponents, so we should be more ready than if we were only playing other Czech clubs.”