Tatra Cup (EU) 2026/27

The Tatra Cup is an annual pre-season ice hockey invitational tournament hosted in Poprad, Slovakia. Established in 1929, it stands as one of the oldest hockey tournaments in Europe. The inaugural event took place under the name "Pohár Palace sanatoria Dr. Szontagha" in Starý Smokovec. Its creation played a key role in founding the Slovak District of the Czechoslovak Canadian Hockey Association, the first ice hockey governing body in Slovakia.

Organised by HK Poprad, the competition operates outside the official league pyramid and is not an official cup of the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation. It serves as a preparation fixture for clubs, typically featuring four teams in a round-robin format. Each side plays three games. The points system awards three points for a regulation win, one point to each team in a draw, and an additional point for the winner in overtime or a shootout. Tiebreakers rely on goal difference, goals scored, and head-to-head results.

HK Poprad holds the record for the most victories with fourteen titles, spanning from 1936 to 2023. HC Košice follows with eleven titles, including wins in 1978, 1979, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1993, 2008, 2017, and 2024. The tournament has experienced interruptions due to World War II and extended hiatuses during the 1950s and 1960s/70s. Participants often include teams from the Slovak Extraliga, the 1. Liga, and international guests from leagues such as the Czech Extraliga, the Austrian ICE Hockey League, or the German DEL. The winner receives a trophy, with no promotion, relegation, or European qualification linked to the standings.