Poprad ХК U20 saw off Košice U20 5:1 in a club friendly on Thursday. The hosts dominated from the outset, putting away a result that reflected their superiority on the ice.
By then, the visitors had already tasted defeat at the hands of Poprad's rivals in 2022 and 2024. Things came to a head on this occasion, with the home side making no mistakes in front of goal.
And here's the thing — Košice had won their last meeting two years apart, 3:2 and 1:0. To be fair, they looked comfortable in those encounters. Not this time.
The final scoreline tells the story. Poprad scored five unanswered goals while Košice managed just one consolation. That's a statement of intent for a growing side.
Recent form suggests the gap is real. Poprad's record includes a 5:0 demolition of Banská Bystrica U20 back in 2021, while Košice have shown vulnerability against similarly ranked opposition.
It's a friendly, yes. But results like this don't happen by accident. Poprad U20 will fancy their chances if they maintain this level of performance.