VUT Cavaliers Brno stay on target both on the ice and in education

University hockey is building a strong position in the Czech Republic – attracting crowds of fans, creating healthy rivalry between schools, and offering students a unique opportunity to balance sports with academic life. The matches are not just about goals and victories but also about the atmosphere, reminiscent of college sports overseas. BUT's hockey team VUT Cavaliers Brno fight on the ice while also developing a community and attracting new players, offering them both facilities and the opportunity to pursue a career as an engineer and an athlete.

The Cavaliers celebrated a 3-2 victory over MUNI in Brno after a thrilling overtime. | Author: Courtesy of VUT Cavaliers Brno

Cavaliers tied the score with MUNI in Brno derby

On 19 February, VUT Cavaliers Brno faced off against the home team HC MUNI at Lužánky in the Underground clash, which drew a sold-out stadium despite the freezing temperatures. The intense match full of goals and fights saw Masaryk University attempting to defend its title as the ruler of Brno from last year’s University Hockey Battle. However, BUT emerged victorious with a final score of 3-2. The scorers were Nesim Harmim, a student of Sports Technologies at CESA BUT, and Richard Orsech from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering BUT (FME), who sealed the match in overtime. The crowd also repeatedly cheered for the popular goalie Štěpán Zlatnický, who made 34 saves.

What’s next for Cavaliers? Matches, recruitment, and autumn derby

The team has four more matches ahead, where they can fight for a spot in the playoffs. The Cavaliers will play at home on 26 February against their table neighbors and direct competitors for advancement, ČZU Farmers Prague, followed by matches on 5 March against UK Kings Prague and 8 March against UNIted HK. The team will travel to Pardubice to face the Riders on 10 March.

The Cavaliers aim to further improve conditions for players and the coaching staff, attracting as many students as possible to strengthen the lineup. Brno University of Technology offers players excellent facilities, enabling them to play semi-professional hockey while studying. More than ten new players have already signed up for the Cavaliers and will showcase their talent at the summer TRYOUT.

Hockey enthusiasts from among the university’s students and staff get regularly involved as well. Fans can support the team at home games in Kuřim, where they can get by a special bus from Nerudova, Červinkova, and Kolejní stops, or by wearing Cavaliers merchandise – such as new hoodies that the team released in celebration of their derby victory. Merchandise is available for purchase at home games or on the VUT Cavaliers Brno Instagram.

The hockey event of the year for both players and fans will undoubtedly be the autumn derby at the Winning Group Arena, where last year 7 700 Cavaliers and Bears supporters cheered together.

Current roster of VUT Cavaliers Brno and the coaching staff. | Author: Courtesy of VUT Cavaliers Brno

Attracting hockey players to university and balancing studies with sports

Ice hockey is a national sport in both the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Attending Cavaliers games has the potential to strengthen university pride and camaraderie at BUT, much like can be seen overseas. While matches bring healthy rivalry, student gatherings across universities can also lead to academic collaboration and new friendships. Hockey thus becomes not only a sporting experience but also a part of student identity and tradition.

This potential is also leveraged by the STUDY AND PLAY campaign, aimed at prospective university students. Its goal is to motivate hockey players and other athletes to study at BUT, showing them that they have ideal conditions to combine studies with a sports career here.

A prime example is the two-goal scorer of the Brno derby Underground, Richard Orsech from FME, whose father introduced him to hockey at the age of three. As an engineering enthusiast, he chose BUT because he believes it has one of the best mechanical engineering faculties in the Czech Republic. “What I enjoy most about my studies is the variety of technologies we can learn about and even try out in practice.” The talented defender, wearing number 25, had long known about the university hockey league and was eager to join while studying. He highly recommends Brno University of Technology to sports and engineering enthusiasts alike. “BUT is one of the top technical universities, and it’s great that it allows athletes to study, pursue their sport, and even supports them in the process.”

Richard Orsech from FME scored twice at Lužánky. | Author: Courtesy of VUT Cavaliers Brno

Not just hockey – team sports at BUT take many forms

Both male and female students have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of team sports and represent BUT alongside their peers. The university has achieved success in e.g. softball, baseball, basketball, futsal, and volleyball. Rowers have also performed well, regularly competing in one of the most significant academic rowing events in the Czech Republic, Osmy Brno.

For more information on all sports opportunities at VUT, whether team-based or individual, visit the Center for Sports Activities at VUT.