Duda returns to 1st League, gets 2 points

On Thursday, Radek Duda spoke to police in Karlovy Vary for the first time since he was involved in an incident with his car and a pedestrian last Tuesday. According to reports at KLH Chomutov's website, Duda's version of the events is "fundamentally different from information in the media," according to club president Jaroslav Veverka. It's not clear at this point the content of his statement, nor how the case will proceed. According to comments made by Duda's father, Duda acted angrily because the pedestrian had kicked his car.

Radek Duda. Photo: Zdeněk Špinka, klhchomutov.cz.

After 25 games in the Extraliga playing for Plzeň 1929, Duda returned to the First League club with whom he started the season, taking to the ice on the road against Berounští Medvědi (Beroun Bears) on Saturday.

Trailing 2-1 after two periods, Duda tied the score for Chomutov forty seconds into the third period, deflecting Tomáš Slovák's shot past goaltender Dominik Furch. Nine minutes later, Duda assisted on David Hruška's eventual game-winner.

Earlier this year, Duda recorded 18 points in 17 games for Chomutov, before being loaned to Plzeň 1929 in November. There, he recorded 29 points in 25 games. He will now try to help Chomutov win the First League championship and battle for a spot in the Extraliga for next season.

With the win, Chomutov has 85 points, with 2 games remaining on the schedule. They are second place and can't drop down, but could possibly still claim top spot if they win both games and Slovan Ústečtí Lvi loses its lone remaining game. Either way, they have clinched a spot in the semi-finals, where they will play either Dukla Jihlava or Olomouc.

The winner of the First League playoffs will play a best-of-seven series against the last place team from the Extraliga, with the winner playing in the Extraliga next season and the loser in the First League. The last place team in the Extraliga will be either BK Mladá Boleslav or Vagnerplast Kladno.